A "COMPREHENSIVE OATH."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 973, 14 November 1910, Page 5

A "COMPREHENSIVE OATH."

_ Tho "Tablet" (London) of September 17 in announcing that the Pope had issued a "Motu Proprio," which "may, perhaps, bo described as a corollary to tho Pontifical documents already in existence regarding Modernism," states:— "The Holy Father gives minute directions for the guidance of all engaged in thoiwoi'kqof. the seminaries, dwelling on the necessity of two things—innocenco of life and integrity of doctrine.. The new and all-important part of • tho 'Motu' Proprio" contains the oath which is to bo' taken by every professor in ecclesiastical seminaries before tho beginning of the ■ yearly course, by now professors, by clorios. promoted to major orders, by canons ana holders of benefices before taking possession of their benefices, -by officials of the Bishop's Curia Ecclesiastical Courts, including the Vicar General and tho Judges, and by preachers of Lenten courses. All the. errors of Modernism in theology, in history, and in philosophy, are summed up and formally rejected in this comprehensive oath., Specially to be noted is the ..attitude required of those who follow the so-oalled 'historical method' of theology: they must repudiate tho error which assorts that the Faith propounded by tho Churoh may be in conflict with history; and that Catholic dogmas, in the sense in which they are now understood, cannot be harmonised with

the true 'origins' of the Christian 'religion:, they must also strongly condemn the assumption of a dual and possibly contradictory character by any Christian man, viz., that .of the historian or oritio and of the believer. The history of dogmas is a valuable study, but there is strong reason to think that at Home the guides of the faithful consider its limits are being enlarged with too little regard for right and truth. The whole document 6liows plainly that the Roman authorities have reliable knowledge of the existence in various quartors of secret, if not open, disregard for the Papal pronouncements and regulations contained in 'Pascendi' and 'Lamentabile.' "■