The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-06
ERRORS IN
DOCTRINE
LISTED
Roman Catholic InquisitiOn
UphOldS Religion as
Against Science.

Sixty-hve heresies against the doc
trine of the Roman Catholic Church
are catalogued in a syllabus promul-
gated July II by Pope Plus x. The de-
cree is issued from the "holy and mi
versaI inquisition" at Rome, commonly
known as the holy Office and, unlike
the reproval of social. political and doc
trinal errors put forth by Pope Plus TX.
in 1864, it is signed only by the notary
of the inquisition.
Clearness is the noteworthy feature
of the syllabus, which deals with mat
tiers purely theological. Errors are con
demned, but without criticism or COM
ment.
In form the syllabus would be mis-
leading to one who began to read the
sections without the preamble, for the
errors are listed as such, being con-
demned n prescribed as a whole in
the paragraph which precedes the cata-
logue.
The chief point urged Is that the in
terpretation of the Bible is not a purely
scientific matter, but one belonging ex-
clusively to the Catholic Church. Eleven
errors with regard to the inspiration of
InG blDl6 are uCliOdilSCog tAoNS W
revelation and dogma, min to the di-
vinity of Christ, seventeen to h resur-
rection. the institution of the sacra-
ments and the foundation of the church.
and the twelve last are aimed against
the modern liberal movement. contend
ing that the church need not alter as
the worlds standard of knowledge
changes.
~ - q 49, I'll htra which
wa sreceived in Newark today, is as
follows:
Text of the Decree.
Decree of the Holy Roman and Uni
versal Inquisition.
Wednesday, July 8. 1907.
With truly lam~entable results our
age, intolerant of all check in its in.
vestigations of the M causes OF
is new in such a way as TO reject the
legacy, as it WERE, of the human race
and thus fall into the most grievous
more pernicious when they affect dis
ciplines, the Interpretation OF the
Sacred Scripture, the principal mystsr
! deplored that among Catholics also not
a few writers are to be found VINO,
crossing the boundaries fixed by the
fathers and by the church herself, seek
out, on the plea of higher intelligence
and in the name of historical consider
atoms, that progress OF dogmas winch
is in reality the corruption of the same.
But lest errors of this kind, which
are being daily spread among the faith
full, should strike root In their minds
and corrupt the purity OF the falth, II
has pleased his holiness Piux, by Divine
Providence pope that the chief among
them should be noted and condemned
through the office of the holy Roman
and Universal inquisition. Wherefore,
after a most diligent investigation and
after having heard the vote (opinionl
of the reverend consultors, the most
eminent and reverend lords cardinals,
the general inquisitors in matters of
faith and morals, decided that the fol-
demned md prescribed, as they are by
this general decree condemned and pro-
scribed:
scribes that books regarding the .Di-
vine Scriptures are subject to previous
censorship does not extend to critical
scholars or students Of the scientific
exegis of the Old and New Testaments,
2. The church's Interpretation of the
sacred books is, not intended to be de-
spised. but it is subject to the more
accurate judgment and to the correc-
ton of the eXegetes.
Church and History.
9. From the ecclesiastical judgments and
censures passed against free and more
scientific exegesis. 1t may be gathered
that the faih proposed by the churcn
contradicts history and that the Catholic
dogmas cannot really be ~reconciled with
the true origins of the Christian religion.
4. The magisterium of the church cannot,
even through dogmatic definitions, estab-
lish the genuine sense of the sacred
Scriptures.
S. Since in the deposit of the faith only
revealed truths are contained, under no
respect does it appertain to the church to
pass judgment concerning the assertions
of human sciences.
6. In defining truths the church learning
and the church teaching collaborate in
such a manner that 1t only remains for
the church teaching to sanction the opin-
ion of the church learning.
Z. The church when 1t prescribes errors
cannot exact from the faithful any in
ternal assent by which the judgments
issued by her are embraced.
8. Those who treat as of no weight the
condemnations passed by the Sacred Con-
gregation of the Index or by other Ro-
man congregations are free from all
blame.
9. Those who believe that God is really
the author of the sacred Scripture display
excessive simplicity or Ignorance;
Old Testament consists In the fact that
the I~sraelite writer's have handed down
religious doctrines under a, peculiar aspect,
either little or not at all known to the
Gentiles.
IL. Divine inspirs tion is not to be ex-
tended to the whole sacred Scripture. 50
as to render it's parts, all and single, i'm
mune from all error.
-. The exegete IL he. wishes to apply
himself usefully to Biblical studies must
DI0I vi All bAl AoAAG EA y NSA
opinions concerning the supernatural orr
gin of the sacred Scripture and interpret
It not differently from other merely human
documents.
Evangelical Parallels.
13. The evangelists themselves and the
Christians Cf the second and third genera
tions arranged artiacially the evangelical
parallels. and in this way gave an explana-
ton Of the scanty fruit of the preaching
of Christ among the Jews.
IA. In a great many account the evengel-
lists reported not so much things that are
true as things which even though false
they judged to be more profitable for their
readers.
Is. The Gospels until the time when the
canon was defined and constituted were
increased by additions and corrections.
hence only a faint and uncertain trace
remained III them OF the doctrine of Christ.
16. The variations Of John are not prop
erly history. but the mystical c%ontempla-
zion of the Gospel; the discusses contained
in his Gospel are theological meditations,
devoid of historical truth concerning the
mystery CT salvation
II. The Fourth Gospel exaggerated mir
acles not only that the wonderful might
stand out. but also that they might be-
come more suitable for signifying the work
and the glory of the World Incarnate.
is. John claims for himself the quality of
a witness concerning Christ, but in reality
Christian life. or OF the life of Christ in the
church.. at the close of the first century.
10. Heterodox exegetes have expressed the
true sense of the Scriptures more faithfully
than Catholic exegetes.
%. Revelation could be nothing but the