The Penn's Grove record., 1907-09-20
THE POPE BANS MODERNISM
Tells Bishops to Tear Bad Books
From the Faithful.
Lead to Atheisnl-Clergy and Laity
Are Warned in Papal EncyclicaI
Just Published.

Rome, 1taly.-The Osservatore Ro
mano, organ of the Vatican, issued an
important encyclical of Pope Plus on
Modernism which really is a com.
pletion of his recent syllabus. The
document declares that modernism is
a serious danger to the Church, refers
in detail to the various features of
modernism, condemns it as danger
Gus in philosophy, faith, theology.
history, criticism and reforms, and ar
riVes at the conclusion that modern.
ism is a synthesis of all heresy and
must logically lead to pantheism.
The encyclical makes the following
provisions:
First-The teaching Of philosophy,
positive theology, etc, is to be car
ried on in the Church schools and
universities, but in q Catholic shirt.
Second-Modernists are to be re-
moved from professorships and the
direction of educational institutions.
Third-The clergy and faithful are
not to be allowed to read modernist
publications.
Fourth-A Committee Of Censor
ship is to be established in every do
cese to pass upon the publications
which the clergy and faithful shall be
permitted to read.
Fifth-The encyclical of the late
Pope Leo XIII, prohibiting The clergy
from assuming the direction of publi-
cations without their Bishops per-
mission, and providing for super
vision of the work of ecclesiastical
writer's, is confirmed.
Sixth-Ecclesiastical Congresses,
except on rare occasions. are pro-
aibited.
Seventh-A council is to be con-
stituted in every diocese to combat
modern errors.
The encyclical occupies seventeen
columns in the Osseryatore Romano.
1t goes at great length into the philo-
sophical and theological aspects of
the modernist errors of the Church,
which are unequivocably condemned.
The e~ncyclical holds that the
pride, curiosity and ignorance of scho-
lastic philosophy are the causes of
modernism.
In concluding the Pontiff says he
foresees that the adversaries of the
Church will take advantage of this
ancyclical to represent him as the en-
envy of science, progress and human
lty. To that accusation, he says, he
replies by acts. He has decided to
support by every mean in his power
the Foundation of an institution
which shall group the most illus
trious representatives of science
among the Catholics, and which shall
have for it's object to favor, with
Catholic truth for light and guide,
the progress of all things designated
under the names of science and cru
dition."
No Papal u%tterance of Leo XIII.
carried with it greater discourage
ment of advanced thought. No books
Or newspapers of modernist tendency
may be left in the hands Of any pupil
In the universities or seminaries.
There is much speculation as to
whether the encyclical is aimed at
one country more than another. Some
regard it as specially directed against
France, while others hold that the
United States is aimed at, but it may
be doubted whether the Pope was in
fuenced by any national considera-
tons.
Modernism has great vitality il
Ita1-itsslf XheEe learned
priests have been removed from pro-
fessorial chairs in recent years fol
favoring it, although without any ap-
parent effect in s%uppressing it.