THE POPE AND BRESLAU PROFESSORS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1102, 15 April 1911, Page 9

THE POPE AND BRESLAU PROFESSORS.

The following is a translation of Iho letter dispatched li.v Caiiliiiid Merry ilcl Val tn his Eminence Cardinal Kopp, vrlativo to ii declaration by tiio proI'rsF'irs iif Hroshin University who are in Holy Orders:— ''Tim Holy Father lias given much consideration in the lellcr addressed to him liy yum- Kminence on the (sth inslant, in which vim referred the following declaration iiisanimnnsly made liy the thrological faculty of Breshnt: — 'Tlip oath against .Modernism contains nothing thnt can change or.go beyond the old riilo of fiiitli which they have always ohsr-rvod. It dons-not impost; any n.r.r obligation, and is not opposed to fidelity to civil authority, nor does it impede the orogress of studies.'

Your Eminence added that the said Faculty has asked you to offer to the .Sovereign Pontiff this attestation .of devotion. His, Holiness lias received tliis attestation ivitli; paternal benevolence, and although' he could but'rejoice to line] the oath taken by all the ecclesiastics of the world, nevertheless be docs not deem worthy of reproof thosa priests of the University of Brer,liui who, being merely professors of that institution, avail of Hie exemption. In Isiet they utilise the benign interpretation of the hw promulgated by tho Sovereign I'oi.tilf himself, and, therefore, so .to speak, liy pure right. They do not show that they are glad to avail of this license, nor do they make it appear ns if Uiey v.ere victims of a miserable human respect, while in a most ample declaration they have even expressed their real vieiv on the point ; and, if the Sovereign Pastor of the Church had not in his goodnes declared them exempt .from the oath, not one of them, as your Kminencc attests, would have hesitated to obey the Papal directions- courageously. This splendid profession of faith and of union with the Apostolic See gives'pleasure to the Holy Father, who feels .sure that such noble sentiments of fidelity will never diminish.—R, Card. Merry'del Yal."