The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-10-08
''cHAyurY TOWARDS Our
ENEMIES

Cardinal MERCER who. when the his
tory OF the European war Is written by
an unbiased historian. will nc doubt
receive Unstintei praise for the man
ner in which he has stood u~nfliuchins-
N a, his post 40 Belgium. defyinR the
mailed fist Of the kaiser and minister
ina as fer as he could to the spiritual
and physical needs q his beloved PEG
pie. has written a pastoral letter un-
der the above caption.
The brave cardinal does not mince
words m the least. He paints a Vivid
l'Tioture 81 the atrocities 81 whish the
Herman have been guilty IN Belgium
and elsewhere, rounily scores
Cathoiio priests ana laymen who have
been 90 bold - TO talk peace before
Germaay IL brought TO her knees.
In excerpi from the letter follows.
Catholics beyond our fronIiers-
who did not find in their hearts to ut
ter a word OF r~eprohation when the
German armies were Strengthening the
innocent inhabitants OF Dinant. Nirton
Andenne. Tamines. Aerschot and Lou
vain. shooting our priests, burning on
open towns and ~dcfenceless villages
who p%ropagated, or allowed to be
propagated. the calumnies which
sought To- exoulpaie the criminals w
transforming the victims into aeeres-
sors. who for the last three years nave
been looking on with folded arms. I'M
plying ewes. and closed lips at the
torture of a nation. their former
friends, who had felt nothing bat
good will for Germans-these very
Catholics are now, in pathetic a%ccent.,
chanting hymns To christian fraternity
f-orgetminess of the past. and peace
The cardinal then goes on To say
that confused notions seem to be pre-
%valent IN the subject OF the church
Felations Of charity and justice toward
the enemy Of the Belgian fathcrland
Is tt not more perfect to return good
for evil7" Ought not the Christian To
be able TO forgive" he SAYS.
Yea. 20 return good for evl would
he well II q were & question only Of
individual wrongs suffered in secret
Blu; as a fact dear colleagues. there
arc in "a. .artsh.. 80 Ia.r..4aa
hundreds Of humos which have been
ravaged. piiiaged and burnt. the abb
senteos, either military prisoners or
deported civilians. are legion. T. IL
10 avenge these personal wroLss that
your people demand justice Ia the
name OF my own experience. and SURE
as to the nature Of YOURS. ! venture
TO answer Not
True the gospel inclines a. par.
don. But the church knows on what
demolition this can be granted Let us
follow her example. she demands
that the offender should confess hls
fault that he should repent. that ne
should promise not 20 repeat his al.
fence and II his fault be an injustice
that he should make restitution q
As soon ~ our enemies have fu'-
filled these conditions rdc hour =
mercy will have struck for hem"
~ concluding his letter. Cardinal
Mcrcier laid.
There = no Christian justice with
tout charity. and no charity without;
! Justice. And A. ayenging justice is
part # the virtue Of Justice. Their,
j. no charity without aveuginr JUS
tiee 70 desire Go close our ewes a.
%fnjusti 'e. under the pretcxt Of herois.a
300 charity. and lo allow the enemy o.
commit crimes 4Eh impurity. because
he ~ the enemy. + 90 fan 20 recagnize
the sovereign ana necessary sway co.
charity in The organization ~ the
moral. Individual and social life co.
Ch~ristianizcd humanity
Par,fsts and others in America who
are talking poace-who demand That
the wal Dee brought o. au end withou.
the criminal being punished should
read Cardinal H"rsicr'- rrmarks aaj
ponder them well o. here b. 20 c
any ueaee talk Den Germany DO
Even then. her proposals must om1ody
Indemnity Tor tF- devastated %pouririe.
and such guarantee az wH' prevent