The San Francisco call., 1910-10-16

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present helplessness of the pope, i'm
INJURED within the walls of the vatican.
and grossly libeled the doctrines of the
Catholic church, Plus X felt in duty
bound to address to the cardinal vicar
of Rome letter in which he solemnly
protested before the Roman people
against the insults thus hurled at the
church.
The editor of Rome said that the
CLIQUE that dominated the Eternal City
was not content with the outrages 1T
had inflicted on the church and the holy
see during the last 40 years, but Signor
Nathan's venomous words were an in
dication of an intention to lead a final
assault on the Catholic religion in Rome
and Italy.
In his protest Plus X said. in part:
Two DAYS ago a public functionary in
the exercise of his mandate, not salts
fed with solemnly commemorating the
anniversary of the day on which the
sacred rights OF the pontifical sover-
eighty were trampled under foot, raised
his voice to heap abuse and outrage on
the doctrines of the Catholic faith, on
the vicar of Christ on earth, and on
the church itself.
Because of this mass Of impfeus
statements, as blasphemous as they are
gratuitous, we can not but raise our
voice in just Indignation and protest,
and, at the same time, through you,
lord cardinal, call the attention OF our
children of Rome to the continuous and
constantly increasing attacks on the
Catholic religion which are being made,
even by public authorities. in the very
seat Of the Roman pontif.
This new and most painful evidence
will certainly not escape the notice OF
the faithful of the whole CathoHc
world, outraged as they are, too. by it;
and they will unite with our beloved
children of Rome to raise up fervent
prayers to the Almighty that he may
rise in defense of his spouse, the
church, so shamefully made target
for calurnnies ever more poisonous, and
for assaults ever more violent, from
the licensed daring of her enemies.
I'VE hope that for the very honor of
the Eternal City these intolerable at
tacks may not be renewed"
The recent break of Signor Nathan
in Rome furnishes most startling evil
dence of the utterly false position in
which the holy see is placed in Rome;
and lends additional point to the argu-
ments now being urged to induce Cath
olics to ''get together" all over the
world, TO counteraet the vicious efforts
put forth TO hamper and null!fy the IN
f1uence of the holy see.
We have already mentioned the vari-
Gus independent sources from which is
heard the urgent call for international
action among Catholics. Another voice
raised to the same end has come from
the recent Catholic congress In Aus
tria. held at Trent. Among the resolu-
tions adopted by the congress was the
following: "The congress would con-
slider it a great advance for the catho-
lie press of the whole. world II an IN
dependent telegraphic agency were es-
tablished, to l.berate the press from
the prejudiced news of the great agen-
cies: and to aetuate this plan 1t recon-
mends that efforts be made to secure
an understanding with the Catholics of
other states"
1t is a painful fact that all the great
news agencies are. almost without IN
Permission. united in favor of anti
clericalism and against the holy see
when politico- religious questions arise.
What is wanted is thoroughly inde-
pendent agency which will tell the
truth. the whole truth and nothing but
the truth.
The fact that Plus X has selected as
the general intention of the aposueship
of prayer for October. The Freedom OF
the Church in Russia, has served 10
direct attention of Catholics the world
over to that most interesting field OF
Catholic labor.
In many minds the name of Russia
is merely. a symbol for an unprogres-
s.ve and reactionary nation; whereas,
in many respects, Russia is probably
one of the most progressive on the face
of the earth. 1t is, however, wholly
Russian and Slavonic in every part and
parcel of its government and policy and
seeks to bend everything else to that
idea Thus it is that it seems to be at
once liberal and despotic, large minded
and narrow, tolerant and prosecuting
Russia is now great conglomerate
empire covering nearly half OF Europe
and almest a third of Asia. 1t has
dozen nationalities under it, speaking
as many different tongues. It has set
fled the Asiatic wilderness in Siberia
with speed and thoroughness that
puts our western prairie settlers to
shame: and we who correct our geo.
graphies so slowly are astonlshed TO
find brand new cities there with 10000
to 20 600 Inhabitants
The Greek orthodox church Is, after
all very near TO the true Catholic
church in ali its teaching and belief.
But. like slrted electric wire, no
matter how close the severed parts
may lie to the main line, it does not
carry the whole living current of the
true faith. Yet only very small ap-
proach is needed to make it again the
living eastern branch of the Catholic
church.
Meanwhile the Greek Catholic church,
the real living branch, has been almost
banned and prosecuted out of Russia
But last year small Greek Catholic
church was opened in st. Petersburg.
and this year some of the Greek ortho-
dox priests have come into the church.
This Greek Catholic church Is Identical
in form. ceremonies and language with
the Russian orthodox church, bat is
wholly Catholic in its belief and teach
ing and is united with the holy see.
The Russian government insists
upon ruling the Catholic church in
Russia through a government bureau
of high officials. The Catholic bishops
of Russia are ruled directly from ST.
Petersburg by a socalled eccleslastical
college, which is intended to be for
the Catholics what the holy synod is
for the orthodox Greeks. 1t Is entirely
due to the courageous resistance of
Polish and Lithuanian bishops that the
scheme has not succeeded The holy
see has absolutely refused to recognize