Free thought; Modernism (Christian theology) -- Catholic Church; Religion and science; Teaching, Freedom of
_Antonio Rosmini-Serbati_ in August, 1849, received official
notice of the condemnation of two of his works by the Congregation
of the Index. He immediately sent in his submission: “With the
sentiments of a true and obedient son of the Apostolic See, that I
have always been by the grace of God and wish ever to be, and have
ever acknowledged myself, I now declare clearly and sincerely,
without reservation, my submission, in the most complete manner,
to the condemnation of my writings.” Both the condemnation and the
submission were soon made the target of attack by the Liberal
press. _Rosmini_ replied in an admirable open letter: “To my great
sorrow I have seen several articles in different newspapers which
dare criticize the Holy Congregation of the Index for condemning
my writings. Inasmuch as I have submitted to the decree of the
said Congregation with all sincerity, and with full interior and
exterior obedience as becomes a true son of the Church, every one
will easily understand how much I regret these articles and
disapprove of them. Yet I deem it not superfluous to declare
expressly that I reject those articles entirely and that I do not
accept the praise for me which they offer. With regard to other
newspaper writers, who are censuring me and even insulting me for
having done what it was my duty to do, in submitting to the
condemnation, as though I had committed a crime, I can only say
that I greatly pity them, and that they would fill me with
contempt could I deem it permissible to despise any one” (apud _J.
Hilgers_, Der Index der verbotenen Buecher, 1904, 413).
A _Fénelon_ or a _Rosmini_, bowing with the humility of the
Christian savant to the judgment of their Church, have thereby
forfeited nothing of their intellectual fame in the eyes of
earnest critics, but, on the contrary, have greatly increased the
respect for their noble character.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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