Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-29
POPE Plus KS REBUKE.
Condemnation of Recalcitrant Christian
Democrats.

From the London Catholic Times.
Tho following letter, in which the ltahah
movement known as Autonomous Christiah
democracy is condemned, mas peeh au
dressed by the holy father to Caroiiiai
savanna. archbishop of Bologna:
INV Lord Cardinal-The circular letter OF
Julv %. 1904, addressed by our caruiiiai
secretary of state to the right reverend Vi
dinaries of Italy, laid down with SUCH pr
cision our regulations. particularly Win re
gard to the Catholic commlttees . an Iea ct
t. Cbristian action, that even those least
acquainted with the elements or the CAT
chism should have understood that thels
cannot be Catholic action truly SO caheu
without immediate dependence Oh Tue OF ot' ~,
one : Rut lust as in the field spoken OF III
the Gospel parable, SO also in that OF Cath-
Ollie action there has been an oVerso"ins
of cookie which grows and suHocates inc
good grain, and this not throueh .he mo.n
of open enemies, but of those who profess
themselves and boast of being Cathohcs
Sueh are the so-called Autonomous Ch's-
tan Democrats who in the desire LOT an
Misunderstood liberty show by thelr Acs ION
dangerous novelties that the church can
not approve of, assume an authoritative
attitude to interfere in, judge and criticlse
everything, and go so far as to say they
are ready to bow to infallibility put not 10
weld to the demand for obedience.
IF arguments were desired to prove that
such persons, by the logical development
of their principles. have clearly made them
selves rebels to the authority of the church
they would be supplied by their statements
at their meetings, when they call them
selves independent; by what they publish
in their journals and periodicals oeIenuine
their work and justifying their conduct;
finally by their replies to the solemn pro-
hibitions of revered prelates and by their
assertions that such prohibitions do not re-
gard their societies and their persons, or
the bishops have the right to judge OF nlngs
concerning faith and morals, but not the
right to direct social action, and therefore
that they hold themselves free to proceed
with their work We are grieved in soul to
know that there are associated with thls
Autonomous Christian Democracy so many
poor youths, who gave the best hopes
Youths to whom we would say with the
most compassionate affection: Take care,
because you are deceived by those who
come around you with f1attery, stun you
with speeches, and do not scruple to con
duct YOU by a way which leads you to ruin.
I'VE cannot do less than make known
the great regret we feel in reading papers
and periodicals which, even while Calling
themselves Catholic, not only censure the
decided protests of the bishops justly con-
demnfng the Autonomous Democrats. hut
dare to assail with the most insulting :nsin-
uatio those whom the Holy Spirit has
placed l. ,lle His church.
Now as has been announced that there
will be held q. the city of Bologna con-
press at which the Autonomous Democrats
will hold most important deliberations for
the purpose of loudly proclaiming their in
denendence we think it necessary to ad-
dress to you, my lord cardinal, this entirely
autograph letter.
81 To protest most strongly against the
deceitful statements that the pope has not
snoken that the pope approves, and that
even If he sometimes does utter protests,
these are forced upon him by others.
40 To declare that all those who desire to
chow not by words but by deeds, that they
are true Catholics should take no part in
this congress.
..3 That much less can priests lend their
presence. by which would be provoked those
canonical penalties which we are deter
mined. though with sorrow, to infiict on the
disobedient.
a. Finally to give warning of the grave
responsibility assumed by all those who In
any way support this society. which creates
disorder in true Catholic action and does so
much injury to poor youths. who. exposed
IN a thousand other perfls, have such need
Of being unequivocally firm in Catholic prin-
ciples. &c -
which YOU can make public, will bring the
Guilty to serious reflection and repentance.
Maanwhile. my lord cardinal, we impart the
apostolic benediction to you with effuston
"From the Vatican, March /, 1905.
Plus X, Pope"