p. 634 | LEO X. ON LIBERTY by N. Y. Independent.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 19, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 40.

LEO X. ON LIBERTY.

By N. Y. Independent.

IN his Encyclical on liberty, Leo X. has much to say against false liberty. The reason is, says Father Hecker:—

"Because false views of liberty are prevalent in Europe. They are not so prevalent here, because, thank God! we have true liberty. The founders of our institutions . . . had sound views of liberty. . . . The fundamental principles of American liberty have never been contradicted by the church either in their reality or in the terms in which they have been expressed."

Let us see. The Pope's last Encyclical on liberty attacks "religious liberty" by name, and proceeds:—

"Justice, therefore, forbids, and reason forbids, the State . . . to treat the various religions, as they call them, alike, and to bestow upon them promiscuously equal rights and privileges. Since, then, the profession of one religion is necessary in the State, that one must be professed which alone is true, and which can be recognized without difficulty, especially in Catholic States. This religion, therefore, the rulers of the State must preserve and protect."

Is it true that this utterance of Leo X. does not contradict "the fundamental principles of American liberty?" Let us see. The Constitution of the United States says:—

"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust in the United States."

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press."

We wish Father Hecker would enlighten our readers on this subject. It is not enough for him to say that the Encyclical does not apply to America but to Europe. It contradicts clearly "the fundamental principles of American liberty."—N. Y. Independent.