The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-08
POPE Plus UPHOLDS BIBLE
Promulgates Pronouncement Against
So-called Modernism"
Declares That All Catholics should
submit 10 Decisions of Bib
Heal Commission.

Rome. Dec. THE following is a care
full translation from the Latin original of
an important document recently issued by
the Pope:
Motu Proprio OF Our Most Holy Lord
Plus y. by Divine Providence Pope, on
the decisions Of the pontihcal commission
on the Bible, and on the censures and
penalties against those who neglect TO
observe the prescriptions against the err
rors Of the modernists:
In his encyclical letter 'Providentissi-
mus Deus" given on November IS. 1893,
our predecessor, Leo XIII. of immortal
memory after describing the dignity Of
our Sacred Scripture and commenting the
study of il, set forth the laws which gov
ern the proper study Of the Holy Bible:
and having proclaimed the divinity OF
these books against the errors and cal
umnies OF the rationalists. he at the same
time defended them against the false
teachings OF what is known as the higher
criticism. which. as the pontin most
wisely wrote, are clearly nothing but the
commentaries OF TatiOnalism derived from
misuse of philology and kindred studies.
Our predecessor, too. seeing that the dan
ger was constantly on the increase. and
wishing 10 prevent the propagation OF
rash and erroneous views, by his apes
tolic letters. "Yigilantiae studiique men,
ores" given on October 80, ls02. estab-
iished a pontifical council or commission
on Biblical matters, composed OF several
Cardinals OF the Holy Roman Church,
distinguished for their learning and wis
dom, 70 which commission were added as
consUltoTs a number OF men in sacred or
ders, chosen from among the learned in
theology and in the Holy Bible, OF yari-
Gus nationalitles. and differing in their
methods and views concerning exegetical
studies.
In so doing the P0ntin haze In mind as
an advantage most adapted for the pro-
motion OF study and for the time in
which We live. that in thfs commission
there should be the fullest freedom for
proposing, examining, and Judging all
opinions whatsoever. and that the Car
dinals OF the commission were not %
reach any definite decision. as prescribed
IN the said apostolic letters. before they
had examined the arguments IN favor
and against the question to he decided.
emitting nothing which might serve 10
show in the clearest light the true and
under discussion. Only after all this had
been done were the decisions reached TO
be submitted for the approval Of the Su-
preme Pontir and then promulgated.
After mature examination and the most
dilgent deliberations the pontiflcal Bib
hcan commission has happily given Ger
tain decisions of a very useful kind for
the proper promotion and direction on
safe lines Of Biblical studies But we OBJ
serve that some persons, unduly prone 20
opinions and methods tainted by per
nicious novelties and excessively devoted
10 the principle Of false liberty. which is
really immoderate license and IN sacred
studies proves itself 70 be most insidious
and a fruitful source OF the worst evils
against the purity of the faith. have not
received and do not receive these deci-
sions with the proper obedience
Wherefore We find IL necessary TO de-
clare and 10 expressly prescribe and by
this our act we do declare and decree
that all are bound IN conscience 10 sub
NIT TO the decisions OF the Biblical COM
mission relating to doctrine.