The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-27
CHURCH BREAKING
DOWN AND WEARING OUT
tcontinued from page ID

JContinued from page ID
ancient imperial trappings. and ac-
| cepting the principles or democracy,
rejecting its medieval schoiasticism,
and demanding a simpler Christian
faith. The Roman Catholic church
has worn out and broken down In
| France. II has, also, worn out, and
looks now as il Ii will soon break
down in Italy. Spain, Portugal and
Austria In Germany and Holland 1t
is making no Roadway. In all the
so-called Catholic countries, Catholic
ism Is disintegrating and losing its
ancient power. Modernism Is an hon
est attempt to save a dying cause.
The Catholic church should frank
ly recognize that democracy paves
the way TO what Is precisely the high
est expression OF her Catholicism"
Referring to the personality OF the
present Pope. Mr. Young observed:
His mind is thoroughly imbued
with medieval theology. He is hope
lessiy welded to scholasticism. He is
perhaps the most obstinate Pope, the
least capable OF being Influenced, that
has occupied the papal chair for a
century. He is a man of many vir.
tues. no doubt, but possesses mind
completely impers ious 10 twentieth
century thought. He accepted and
holds blindly the purely mechanical
and external teaching which he re-
ceived at the seminaries Of Castei-
franco and Treviso.
The pope's counselors are the same
tyne and he is controlled by them"
The attitude OF the Vatican, con-
tinued Mr.. Young. "is one OF repug-
nance, contempt, hatred and maiedle-
ton.
Decree Felt In Detroit.
Rome cannot save her life by gag
ging the press, sitting intellects, sup
pressing ambitions young men, excom-
municatfng independent thinkers.
matchmaking modern movements OF
thought and provisioning in front OF
modern civilization with her images
and statuary The enforcement OF the
decree here in Detroit, that Catholics
must withdraw their children from the
public schools and send them TO Catn-
Ollie schools, Is but part OF the gen.
eral repTessive and disciplinary
scheme TO get rid OF modernism.
Modernism has come TO the Roman
Catholic church to save II from It's
incrustation of scholasticism and me-
diaeval metaphysics. 10 show IL how to
mingle with the world movements
and adapt itself TO the culture Of the
uay A movement so wide-reacting
end complex in It's consequences, will
triumph without any cataclysm and
will certainly quietly absorb and be
absorbed by the church.
Undoubtedly the papacy Is facing
one of the most serious situations In
its history, certainly the most serious
since the Reformation. Modernism has
evidently infected the church widely,
especially in those countries where
Catholics are most intelligent and pro-
gressive, such as Germany, Italy,
France. England and America. The
movement is considered of such i'm
portance as 10 call forth letters and
DEGREES from the vatican.
Il shall attempt TO define modern
ism. II is an accidental name, name
OF angry abuse, adopted by Plus X,
who took 10 from the Jesuit Fathers
in Rome. II Is neither apt nor de-
scriptive OF the tendencies Of thought
which we're intended TO be discredited
Those who coined IL neither under
stood the richness nor the depth OF
what they thought to anathematize. II
| is defined in the Pascendi Gregis as
/ the Syncretism of all hcreisies, which
| finds its origin in curiosity and pride
Paul Sabatief, who was the first TO
call attention to the modernist move.
ment in lecture in London in 1902,
says: Modernism Is in no degree con.
tanned in an intellectual propositions;
II Is not q system or new synthesis.
II Is more than vital or strenuous
effort, for an effort implies an act OF
conscious will, and the movement is,
In Its origin. thing essentially natur-
al and enforced
Means Historical investigation.
The Modernist movement Is one OF
historical investigation and criticism
The modernist accepts what is reason.
ably established by modern scientific
and historical criticism, and then
; seeks To interpret the scriptures. the
J religious dogmas, and the church in
the light OF human experience Hence
II Is called an orientatlon-a correct
in. and proper placing OF self in the
midst OF the new thought and life
The Modernist I'm the Roman church
is not a liberalist, not a radical. no
by any means an ATHEIST, and no
even higher critic, as we understand
the term. He accepts the general con
! illusions OF higher criticism as to tbs
!, composition OF the bible: he accepts
\ the facts OF modern science, he &C
| cepts the new spirit and life OF democ
4 raev and IN an rapport with the liyina