The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-04
"The Western Church accepts the

QOctflne OF PufgatOry ana the EaSteTn
Church denies it. This disaccord
arises from the difference of concep-
ton as to the canonical penance i'm
posed on the faithful who confess their
sins. The Westerns consider these
canonical penances as expiatory salts
faction which must be completed even
after death. The Easterns consider
the penance that is imposed only as
a means for the remuneration of sin.
If the two Churches approach one an
other in a concilatory spirit and make
an impartial examination of this point
prompted by the fear of God and a
sincere love for reunion, they will,
doubtless, arrive at an understanding
and solve this question to the salts
faction of both parties, making clear
the truth which has been delivered
through the Word of God and the
| teaching of the ancient Fathers.
''We say the same with regard to
the question concerning the happiness
of the just and the sufferings of the
damned. The difference of belief in
this matter could easily be removed.
AS is well known, our Holy Church in
! this connection believes the teaching of
the ancient Fathers, namely, that the
souls of the just enjoy a happiness
of which the souls are capable. That
is to say, that the condition of the
souls in the period between death and
| the Last Judgment is an individual
condition reserved for the decision of
a just Judge. The innocent amongst
them are happy owing to they con-
sciousness of their innocence, and the
guilty are unhappy through the con-
sciousness of their guilt. The Church
has a wide field for intercession so
long as the decisive judgment of the
Judge has not been given. In this
way there is no room amongst the
truths of Faith for the assumption of
sentence by the chief Judge, which
condemns the soul after death to a
Our Church, as is known, does not ad-
nit that the Church of God could ever
allow that sentence which has been
delivered can be recalled, or that a
punishment which has been ordained
through such a sentence can be less
ened.
These explanations being made, we
recognize that the belief of the West
ern and the Eastern Churches was for
merly the same, and that subsequently
a change took place. But we earnestly
wish that all the essential differences
which separate them should be re-
moved and that the East and the West
should again arrive at the ancient
unity in the same belief and the same
love, should mutually pardon one an
other any wounds that may have been
inflicted on one side or the other in
the past, and should remember the
command of their common Master, by
this sign shall men know that you
are My disciples, because you love one
another
| cit goes without saying that the
restoration of unity between. the
Churches named will have for it's basis
the preservation intact of all the priv
ileges and rights of the Churches.
Each Church will preserve it's rights
and it's independence as in ancient
times, that is to say, as laid down by
the Gcumenical Councils, and espe-
cially by the Council of Nicaea.
| "We make this solemn declaration
in the sight of the Christian world,
hoping that it will find an echo of sin
cere sympathy in the hearts of all. If,
which God forbid, our expectation is
deceived and the reunion SO earnestly
longed for does not come to pass, we
have at least discharged fraternal
duty, and in the eyes of God, Who is
God of peace, have removed from our
shoulders the responsibility for the
separation and division"
This is noteworthy document, ex-
pressing, as it does, great desire for
| a complete understanding with the
Roman See and for the settlement of
all questions in dispute. From none
will it receive more cordial welcome
than from His Holiness, Pope Plus x.
ORDER OF POOR cLAREs.