South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-19
JUST A PLAIN STATEMENT.

JUST 4 PLAIN STATEMENT.
That the pope Of Rome. speaking political
criterion for American Catholics that OF
the Catholic church. his authority Is confined to mat
spiritual. and OF binding matters
pora that Catholics understand this and dTerenti-
between their temporal and spiritual obligations
cordingy. calls a further deletion from the
made in this paper Friday. with reference
Pope Benedcts proposals. Referring to the ap-
proxmately 100000 American Catholics. used the
expression
TO them nc - Gods vicar on earth and
to many Of them not only n matters spiritual.
but in matters political" -
to which the answer from the local Catholic clergy.
IS none Of them" and accordingly with biz Of ex-
pIanatlon. as TO intent IN the expression to
effect that We have misiudged Catholic training,
apologize.
difficult for us to conceive Of a man speaking
the high eminence Of the holy father. without
carrying conviction, whether authoritative or not
minds millions people, both Protestant and
Catholics and regardless of the subject upon which
ne speaks Call it psychological effect rather than
religious one but there it is. Catholicsm's
in separating influence in the minds peo-
pIe the authoritative spiritual the unauthortave
temporal puts a face upon it, through the nsitu-
Of will, especially to temporal matters that
is highly commendable
As 20 the other features Of the comment found
he Objectionable we'll take the whole editorial Would
had the power blot it of mind. but
with this one retaining idea. II is still judgment
concurred by truly loyal American Cath
1licsust loyal are. and scores Of local ones
that Pope Benedicts peace proposals inoppor-
tune insufficient and are likely 10 have a tendency to
hinder the States well her allies,
degree i'm holding their people loyal willing united
and il you please their determination
to win the cause for which they battling namely,
primarily. the overthrow Of autocratic mill
,ars.n and a world made safe for democracy"
Separate the Catholics OF America from it entirely
and there still the influence of the vatican
upon the every peace propagandist, pro-Ger-
man or otherwise throughout the land. They say
now The pope is peace" and it carries weight
Of course Sincere in his proposals. beyond doubt and
hopeful Of the welfare mankind, that cannot separ-
ate the human mind from its own method Of absorb
tion nor stop the German SPY. the demagogue on the
floor Of congress or any other peace propagand from
pointing to him as at work the same end they
and there you have il.
To is what we meant and all that meant, by
sociatne him or proposals. with other move
nents and auti-war already hindering the
government in its war preparations. adds color
them II Nigh. have been said differently, is be-
ing sale differently now but with the style eliminated
and the motive made plain beg leave TO surrender
all but the motive.
Apologies mijudged Catholic training. misuse Of
speech apparently rreverant references; for inabi-
ty make purpose understood, for ineongruous
alignents that tend bee exaggerate; for these,
as they have been brought to our attention accept
the criticism meekly. and apologize abjectly but
our view OF the popes proposal, the temperatures
and insufHciency of it, and the possible effects,
have now tried to outline them with all due reverence
and with the purpose OF being rightly under
stood stil stands, and must continue TO stand.