The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-04-14
THE MORAL FORCE OF THE CHURCH

lze the necessity of creating among
themselves by common agreement the
spirit OF new legislation. This must
be subordlnated to moral authority,
recognized by all, and the only posi-
bic one is that of the Church, which
presided over the formation of the
modern Christian states of Europe,
ana Whlch with it's teaching as old as
It's hrst teachers, but always young,
VIII ofer once again to the peoples the
fundamental principles and the rules
tor international agreements - the
principles of Catholic morals Who
would nave thought at the beginning
OF this war that cabinet minister of
the nation that despoiled the Sover-
elgn Pontiif of his possessions and his
independence in 1870, and persuaded
theAother nations to exclude him from
the peace conference at The Hague in
1870, would so warmly advocate the
necessity Of submission to the moral
principles OF the Church and to the
moral authority of the Pope as a sane
ton for the inviolability Of interna-
uonal agreements? And yet, this is
Just what has happened The fact is,
That the nations of the world feel the
need OF some moral authority; of some
one whose authority extends to all
peoples and rises above the rivalries
of states; of some one who, having no
temporal interests to serve, could
speak to the nations on behalf of God
and religion with absolute impartial
ity; of some one to whom the nations
could submit their differences before
having recourse to the shocking arbi-
trament OF war and who could appeal
to their higher nature by proposing
the considerations of Justice, charity
and truth. No one can fail to observe
the position of authority and influence
almost universally conceded to Bene-
dict XIV during the present war. Ma
tons like Holland and England have
sent ambassadors to the Vatican-a
thing they had not done since the Ref
ormation. Germany announced that a
copy OF its recent peace proposals had
been sent to the neutrals-an to the
Holy See. The voice OF the Holy
Father, pleading for better treatment
OF the wounded, for an exchange of
prisoners, for the alienation of starv-
ing children, for the immunity of non
combatants and of the monuments of
religion and civilization, has been
heard and respected throughout the
world, The lesson which the powers
OF Europe are now learning is not a
new one. There is a maxim which
has been accepted by all governments
and all statesmen for thousand
years, namely, that if the peace of the
world would be preserved, the indie
pendence and moral leadership of the
Papacy must be respected. This maxim
the Congress of the Nations at Vienna
in 1915 recognized. 1t was recognized
again by the Congress Of the Nations
III Paris in 1856. The nations, assem-
bled at the Congress Of The Hague in
1899, refused to recognize it, and they
are reading the handwriting of their
error in the mad hatred and destruc
| ton of the present conflict. Happy
will it be for Europe if the lesson is
| well learned before the close of hos
tilities. Then Justice and peace will
have kissed, for peace will then be
founded on the basis of justice and
Christian morality-the only basis
| that can make it lasting"