The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-28
THE VATICAN AND FALSE
RUMORS.

1t is an old saying that when a
man continually quarrels with an
other it is because he is either
jealous or afraid of that other
man. This seems to be the atti-
tude Of the world towards the
Papacy during the past few years.
The Holy Father, in his watch
tower on the Vatican, always
makes luminous target for those
in the valley Of the world. For
proof that the governments fear
the wholesome influence Of the
Vatican, we have but to recall the
Infamous pact Of London and it's
faithful carrying out by the con-
ferees in Paris.
In it's issue of June Is the New
York World utters a cry Of
mingled triumph and alarm.
Speaking of the alleged nervous
ness OF the Vatican, it runs a sub
head, MAY have to abandon some
part Of its dogmas." 1t then pro-
ceeds to enumerate the so-called
dangers which have threatened
the Vatican from the downfall Of
Austria, the poverty Of Belgium
and the disturbances in other
lands.
Then calling the Pope one Of
the daring spirits in Rome, it de-
clares that his attempt to regain
leadership ''would not be success
full unless the Holy See saw fit to
renounce certain part of its dog
mas; and this would first come
under revision, SO as to make it
possible for Protestant churches
to join the union.'' Cardinal
Gasparri is said to be one of the
men with such modern ideas. We
are told that Mgr. Gasparri s
task is now being further enlarged
by the need Of converting Bishops
and Archbishops to the Holy See s
latest viewpoint"
The above is an example Of the
manner in which restless spirits
have prophesied about the Vatican
for long ages. Years ago Vol
taire and other atheists were sing
| ing the complete overthrow Of the
Papacy, in fact, they chanted it's
requiem. Little did they realize
the inherent power that sustains
the Church Of God in the midst
of dangers. To be historically
exact, there have been many
periods in the history Of the
Church when, humanity speaking,
she was in far greater danger
then she is at present. Witness,
for example, the periods of the
great heresies Of early times, the
breaking up of the Roman EN-
pire, the era of the Reformation,
and the great upheaval of the
French revolution. In each of
these epochs it was foretold and
affirmed that the end of the
Papacy was in sight. Were the
Church a mere human institution
she would probably have dis
integrated long ago, even as the
comparatively recent Protestant
sects are now showing signs of
decay. But the promise about the
impotence of the gates Of hell
holds good as much today as it
did when the Church lay hidden
in the catacombs and when the
Popes were driven from Rome.
That a few disturbances in GER
tain countries have followed the
recent world war is true. The
alarms raised by the New York
World, however, and so-called
perils cited in it's articles, are
partly without foundation and
partly exaggerated. What the
fury Of the Roman Emperors
failed to accomplish surely will
not be achieved by a few political
leaders or restless spirits today.
The idea Of the Holy See s
abandoning some part of it's dog
mas is too absurd to need refu-
tation. Neither the Bishops nor
the Archbishops need to be con-
verted to the Holy Sees latest
viewpoint; they are already in
perfect accord with the Holy See
on all matters Of dogma. Every
student Of history knows full we'll
that the doctrines Of the Catholic
Church are as immutable as eter-
nifty. They were given by Christ
to His Church to have and to hold,
to proclaim and defend, until the
end Of time. Neither Pope nor
Bishops can, in the very nature
OF things, change one iota of the
Church s dogmas without at once
mourning the mark Of heresy.
Now, the alarm felt by the New
York World is perfectly ground
less. History has shown that ev-
cry great persecution and world
upheaval has left the Church
Ipurer and stronger than before.