Liberal Catholicism

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · May 13, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 19.

Liberal Catholicism.

It is said that Mgr. Schroeder, of the Catholic University at Washington, D. C., was the prime cause of Bishop Keane's deposition from that post. The bishop was recognized as a "liberal Catholic." Mgr. Schroeder is now writing a series of colloquial articles, in which he aims vigorous blows at liberalism, and it is surmised that Archbishop Ireland is the real objective point. Here is an excerpt from one of his articles:—

"Question—Would you then reject all liberalism, even the true, honest, Catholic liberalism? I think that is almost running to extremes, throwing out the wheat with the chaff.

"Answer—That is just what I want to do, for liberal Catholicism is nothing but chaff and weeds, that will keep back, or even choke off, wheat. Liberalism—on the acre of the Catholic Church—is what the Canadian thistle is to the farmers in Dakota. They make no distinction between good and bad thistles; they kill all, as they know none are any good. And so there are not two varieties of liberalism in the church—only one—and it is no good. During the last fifty years, and especially in our time, the popes have repeatedly pronounced liberal Catholicism, as a doctrine, incompatible with the teachings of the church, and have called it a 'dangerous enemy,' 'a compromise between right and wrong,' 'a hidden poison,' 'a sneaking, fraudulent error that is more dangerous than an open enemy.' Can there be a true Catholic that will dare uphold a doctrine which has been condemned by the highest teacher of the church?"

The reader will bear in mind that this sentiment comes from the leading Catholic educational institution in the United States, the present head of which was appointed by the pope to supersede one reputed to be imbued with liberalism. Yet many Protestants are being deceived by the idea that Catholicism is growing more liberal and tolerant than in former days.