Encyclical Letter of Pope Pius XIII.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
BUT as the pope proceeds, he grows more bold, and speaks out the popish views so plainly that it would seem that even the most blind Protestant might take the alarm. He says:— "These, then, are the things taught by the Catholic Church concerning the constitution and government of the State. Concerning these sayings and decrees, if a man will only judge dispassionately, no form of government is, per se, condemned so long as it has nothing repugnant to Catholic doctrine, and is able, if wisely and justly managed, to preserve the State in the best condition. Nor is it, per se, to be condemned whether the people have a greater or less share in the government; for at certain times, and with the guarantee of certain laws, such participation may appertain, not only to the usefulness, but even to the duty of the citizens. Moreover, there is no just cause that any one should condemn the Church as being too restricted in gentleness, or inimical to that liberty which is natural and legitimate. In truth, the Church judges it not lawful that the various kinds of divine worship should have the same right as the true religion; still it does not condemn those governors of States, who, for the sake of acquiring some great good, or to prevent great ill, patently bear with manners and customs, so that each kind of religion has its place in the State." Let no one think that "the Church" would lay out a cast-iron rule for the government of States. Let not patriotic Americans be alarmed. The pope does not condemn a Republican form of government, nor indeed any other form of government, per se, if it will only work for the interests of the papacy. The Catholic Church is just as well satisfied to control a senate or a legislature as it is to control a king. And let no one, says the crafty Leo, condemn the Church for its leniency in tolerating other forms of worship than the Catholic, because it does not now, any more than it ever did, judge it lawful that the various kinds of divine worship should have the same right as the Catholic religion; but, owing to its present "unfavorable position," it is not able to "interfere" as much as it would like to. And, moreover, the Roman Church, so great is its kindness, does not condemn those rulers who allow "each kind of religion" to have "its place in the State," since, on account of existing circumstances, they cannot help themselves. That is, the pope does not condemn rulers for not persecuting Protestants, when they have not the power to do so! What marvelous gentleness! And then, as if to emphasize the fact that the Catholic Church still cherishes, as a precious legacy, the principles (or, rather, the lack of principles), which caused Huss and Jerome and thousands of others to be burned at the stake, the pope says:— "Therefore at so critical a juncture of events, Catholic men, if, as it behooves them, they will listen to us, will easily see what are their own and each other's duties in matters of opinion as well as of action. And the formation of opinion, whatsoever things the Roman pontiffs have handed down, each and every one is it necessary to hold in firm judgment, well understood, and as often as occasion demands, openly to declare." But how shall these wise and humane recommendations be carried into effect? The pope provides for this as follows:— "But generally, as we have said, to wish to take no part in public affairs would be in that degree vicious, in which it brought to the common weal neither care nor work; and on this account the more so, because Catholic men are bound by the admonitions of the doctrine which they profess, to do what has to be done with integrity and with faith. If, on the contrary, they are idle, those whose opinions do not in truth give any great hope of safety, would easily get possession of the reins of government. This also would be attended with danger to the Christian name, because they would become most powerful who are badly disposed to the Church, and those least powerful who are well disposed. Wherefore it is evident that there is just cause for Catholics to undertake the conduct of public affairs; for they do not assume these responsibilities to approve of what is not lawful in the methods of government at this time; but in order that they may turn these very methods, as far as may be, to the unmixed and true public good, holding this purpose in their minds, to infuse into all the veins of the commonwealth the wisdom and virtue of the Catholic religion." Is there any one who cannot see the meaning of this? Is it an innocent and harmless recommendation? Read it again carefully. Catholic men ought to take active part in public affairs. Well, is there any reason why they should not? No; a Catholic has as good a right to vote as anybody else has; but we would have professed Protestants alive to the object for which they vote, so that it may be defeated. Why should Catholic men not be idle in public affairs? Because if they are, those who are not favorable to popish assumptions will get the reins of government. This must not be allowed. No one need think that a Catholic, by becoming active in the politics of a Government that is non-Catholic, does so because he approves of that form of Government, but because he designs to turn "these very methods" to the support of the "public good." In other words, the pope is anxious to use even this Republican Government for the support of papal pretensions. In connection with the last quotation, read the following:— "The means to seek these ends can scarcely be laid down upon one uniform plan, since they must suit places and times different from each other. Nevertheless, in the first place, let concord of wills be preserved, and a likeness of things to be done be sought for. And each will be attained the best, if all shall consider the admonitions of the apostolic see a law of conduct, and shall obey the bishops." What does this mean? It means that whatever methods varying circumstances demand should be employed. Only one object is in view, and that is to secure the advancement of the Roman Catholic religion, to the exclusion of all other forms of worship. It means that whether in Europe or in the United States, the Roman Catholic who engages in politics is to "consider the admonitions of the apostolic see a law of conduct," and to "obey the bishops." It means that a steady and untiring effort is being made to bring the United States, as well as25all other Governments, under the dictation of a foreign, ecclesiastical ruler, the representative of that "man of sin," "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped." We claim that these conclusions are legitimately drawn from the letter of Pope Leo XIII., and not only so, but that these things are plainly stated in that letter. Every candid person must testify that we have not wrested the pope's meaning in the slightest degree. His words speak for themselves. And now some one will ask: Do you really imagine that the pope will ever gain such control as he desires? Not in this country; but the danger is none the less, notwithstanding. When Protestants can see nothing but what is perfectly allowable in such a letter as that of the pope's, and can even commend it, it shows that the principles of what is nowadays termed Protestantism are not very different from those of Catholicism. The angel of Revelation, who announced the judgment of the great harlot, Babylon, declared that "all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Rev. 18:3. Fornication, when applied to a church, means connection with the world, which, on the part of the church, is always unlawful; and the position which the majority of professed Protestants take concerning the pope's views on "the Christian Constitution of States," shows that people are fast becoming intoxicated with the pleasing idea that the church, instead of depending alone on the pure words of the gospel, ought to unite with the world, that it may secure support from it. So intoxicated are they that their vision is affected, so that they cannot see anything wrong in the demands of the papacy. Surely it cannot be long before the likeness to the beast will be completed. And when this unholy union has been consummated, then we may be sure that all the wrath of offended supreme power will be visited upon those who will maintain their allegiance to God alone. We are willing to be called alarmists, for we are commanded to "sound an alarm." Joel 2:1. God grant that many may heed the alarm, and in keeping "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," may find a safe refuge from the unmingled wrath of God, infinitely greater and more terrible than that of all the nations of earth, which is sure to be visited upon all who worship either the beast or his image.
E. J. W.