THE PORE'S EDICT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 918, 10 September 1910, Page 5

THE PORE'S EDICT.

STEPS ACAINST MODERNISM. YOUNG PRIESTS FORBIDDEN TO READ NEWSPAPERS. By Telegraph—Press Assodation-dopyrißht Rome, September 8. His Holiness Pope Pius X has issued an Encylical enumerating measures to be taken against tlie growth of Modernism, and instructing bishops, and rectors of colleges to watch the formation of the minds of tlie young clergy and to forbid them reading newspapers and. periodicals. All professors and priests will be compelled, on appointment, to take an oath: of loyalty to healthy Catholic doctrine and discipline. " . DECREE CAUSES CONSTEENATION. CHILDREN'S FIRST COMMUNION.(Eec. September 9, 8.40 p.m.) London, September 9. A decree which has been issued by the .Roman Catholic Sacred ] Congregation of; Sacraments fixing. the age for children's first communion at about seven years of age has dismayed many French Catholics. ; It is believed that the Vatican aims at implanting instruction before- tho children are submitted -to the. alleged corrupting influence ~of . the State schools.'; ... A large proportion of the French clergy believe it is impossible to make a child of seven understand the difference between Communion bread 'and ordinary bread. ,

DISSATISFIED PRIESTS;. In a note on the Modernist journals in Europe, the New York "Independent" wrote recently:—ln Naples, Italy, is 'published "Battaglie d'Oggi," or "Today's Struggles." It prints-the 'formal act of suspension by the Cardinal; Arch r bishop of Naples of every priest • who subscribes or, writes ■ for it, and yet, in three months,: only, five out,of 400 priests stopped the paper. In Geneva is just issued, the "Eovue Moderniste Internationale." • It demands freedom of theological research, the.removal of economic questions from .Church, authority, and, will attempt to, show how the Churches may become spiritual jguides of humanity. It declares that "thousands-\of priests would willingly leave the Church if only worthy labour, were assured them." The first.of its three papers is in French, and deals with conditions in; Germany. It,-declares, that Pius X dares not carry out his own orders, because of the .numbers '■ of priests involved. In fact,' only . one bishop, Epthenbore, attempted to carry out the. remedies to the letter.-He argues that it is the aim of Modernism to make the Church democratic; while theology; he shows, must be wrested from priestly theologians, and the Church'laicised, as Christ Himself cleaned out, the temples.. The second paper is in Italian,, and' describes the "silent, in. Italy, arid treats of innumerable priests,, unknown to scientific work, ; and yet "saturated with the Christian ideal." The last article is in German, by: Sickenborger, a loading Modernist, ■ and treats of "Conscience • and : Authority:" These articles are followed by four hitherto unpublished letters by Father. Tyrrell.