Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-04

clear departure from the policy Of his
predecessors in that he allows Italy's
Catholics to take part in the political
life OF their country, permission
which was not granted to them since
the occupation of Rome by the Italian
government.
Besides, the document is an arraign-
ment of the socialists, not only Of
those outside the church, but also Of
such as claim to be Catholics and
have enlisted their sympathies with
the so-called social democrats. The
pope forbids Catholics in Italy to place
socialists in nomination for any politi-
cal or administrative office and clearly
expresses his intention to keep them
out of the organizations which are to
be formed under his directions and SUI
pervision.
The papal document, which was is.
sued only few days ago, begins with
reiteration of the purpose the pope
set before himself on the very day he
was elected to the highest position in
the church "to restore all things in
Christ" and says that in order to
carry out such purpose he needs the
cooperation not only of every prelate
priest and layman.
He claims that, while the mission of
the church is the salvation of souls
and the use of every means to carry
out such mission, "there are many
good things belonging to the natural
order with which the mission of the
church is not directly concerned, but
which flow from 1t as natural conse-
quence."
Sees Danger to Society.
"The church is the chief promoter
and defender Of Christian civilization"
he says, (which can only decay as
long as human society will persist to
follow principles which are contrary to
the Christian idea: or. what is worse,
to apostatize openly from God"
you may well Judge. venerable
brothers" he continues, chow much
help can be rendered to the church by
those elect phalanxes Of Catholics who
purpose to unite all their forces in Or
der to fight by every just and legal
means an anti-Christian civilization;to
repair in every way the serious disor-
ders which are caused by 1t; to return
Jesus Christ to the family, the school
and society and to take a special in
terest in the people, especially in the
working and agricultural classes by
lettering their natural condition with
proper and just laws"
Catholic action, the pope says, must
be founded on desire to promote the
honor and glory of Christ. Therefore,
those who are called to direct any
Catholic movement must be good Cath
olics at heart well-grounded in their
faith and instructed in religious mat
| ters
''The present condition of nations Of
fers to every one an opportunity to in.
f1uence the public administration, and
| the Catholics, provided they safeguard
the obligations imposed on them by
the laws Of God and by the rules Of
the church, can with safety, profit by
| it. so as to show themselves fit as the
others and perhaps better than others,
to promote the material and civic well
fare of the people and thus obtain for
themselves such authority and influ.
ence as to be able to defend and pro-
mote higher order of things, those
that relate to the salvation of souls.
Serious reason, venerable brothers,
prevents us from departing from the
rule laid down by our predecessor Piux
TX. which was followed by his success
sor Leo XIII during his long pontifi-
cate, according to which the partici-
patton of Catholics in Italy in the cleo.
ton Of the legislative body remains in
a general way forbidden. Other rea.
sons, however, just as serious, which
have for their scope the good of So
ciety which must be saved at all costs
may require, in special cases, that
such rule be abrogated, especially if
you, venerable brothers, should think
it necessary for the good Of souls or
the interest of your church may de-
mand it.
"The possibility that we may make
such concession makes it duty for
Catholics to prepare themselves pru-
IDENTIFY and seriously for the political
life to which they may be called. 1t is
very important that the activity al
ready displayed by Catholics in form
ing electoral organizations for the ad-
ministrative and municipal elections
should be extended to the political life
of the country.
/ A SUccESSElu WOMAN