The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-07-03

OF protest in many quarters, and
In order to set at rest all ques-
ton of its authenticity the Cos
servatore Romano, the official
organ of the Vatican, issued a
statement in which it denied that
Latapie interpreted Alright the
mind of the Holy Father on the
grave situation brought about by
the war. 1t called attention to the
fact that there is IAN essential
difference between the official pub
lie documents of the Holy See
and private publications, and
continues: AS to that which
concerns the European conflict,
the thought of the Sovereign Pom
tiff is not doubtful because it has
been clearly expressed at different
times in numerous pontifical docu-
ments, namely, the Encyclical of
November /, 1914, the Christmas
discourse to the Cardinals, the
Consistorial allocution of Janu-
airy %, 1915, many letters from
the Pontiff to Cardinals and
prelates, and the recent letter on
May 20, to the Cardinal Doyen.
No attention, therefore, should be
paid to any statement purporting
to give the views Of the Holy Fa-
Their on important questions un.
less it be contained in the author.
lied and official letters signed by
the Pope himself or by the Papa
Secretary of State.
The Holy See is most anxious
that it's attitude towards the pres
ent European situation be not
misunderstood. On more than one
occasion it has asserted it's abso-
lutte neutrality, and there is nc
reason to believe that it will ever
do or say anything that can be
construed into violation of this
THAT it has not done so i'll the
present instance is evident from
an interview published in the
l"Corriere d'Italia" of June %, il
which Cardinal Gasparri, the
Papal Secretary of State, declared
that I'M. Latapie invented en-
tirely many grave assertions.
After denying many Of thu
statements attributed to the
Pope in the alleged interview
His Eminence continues: "But
much graver is the confusion Of
NJ. Latapie when he speaks Of tn,
relations between the Holy SET
and Italy. The following is the
real opinion Of the Pontitf:
1t is true that he wished Italy
to remain outside the conflict
upon receiving concessions from
Austria, because he desired thai
Italy should not suffer the horrors
of war, and he was pre-occupiec
with the delicate position of the
Church if Italy entered the con
fiict. War once declared, the
Church became entirely neutral
1t has not in any way tried to pre-
vent Catholics from doing theil
duty according to their con
sciences and it has done every
thing for the spiritual welfare Of
the soldiers.
"The Pontiff recognizes thai
the Italian government has done
everything possible to alternate
any difficulties that might arise
between it and the Holy See. The
Vatican's correspondence is mo-
being touched, but that does MOI
mean that the situation Of the
Holy See is normal. 1t does mo-
intend to create embarrassment
for the government.
"The Holy Father much de
plored the sinking of the Lusi
tania, but he could not pronounce
directly on it, because there was
before him a question of fact re
Egarding which each side makes
different assertions. !"
Cardinal Gasparri ends the in
terview by stating that Latapit
had formally promised "not t.
publish anything without previous
authorization" and adds: "Bu-
as that formal promise was no
sufficient to preserve the Holy SCI
from such deplorable indiscre
tions, M. Latapie will have thu
honor of being the last Journals
to be received by the Holy Father
during the war.
The cause of all the trouble anc
annoyance to which the Holy Sc,
has been subjected must be sough
for in the failure of. correspond
ents who are granted the privilege
of an audience to observe tn,
canons of journalistic prophet,
and not embarass the Holy See by
attributing to the Pope senti
ments entirely foreign to him
The world is so anxious to know
what the Holy Father thinks
about the grave problems which
are pressing for a solution, tina
some correspondents cannot re
sist the temptation to color tn,