In a thought-provoking and meticulously crafted essay, Cardinal Ewen of Limerick delves into the teachings of Cardinal Newman, drawing a clear line between authentic Catholicism and the perils of Modernism. The essay, spanning around forty pages, has been hailed for its clarity and scholarly depth, offering a compelling defence against the encroachment of Modernist ideas within the Church.
Cardinal Ewen masterfully parallels Newman’s timeless words with the recent encyclical, underscoring the importance of staying true to the fundamentals of Catholic doctrine. The essay dissects Modernism, asserting that proponents of this ideology have no rightful claim to Newman’s legacy, as the great Oratorian would have vehemently resisted the distortions of truth that Modernism entails.
In his preface, Cardinal Ewen sets the tone by making it unequivocally clear that Modernism poses a danger that both Newman and the Pope would have resisted. He argues that the entire theological foundation of Newman rested on the elementary truth that man, coming from God, possesses the intellect to know and recognize a revelation when it is presented with due credentials. Modernism, therefore, stands in stark contradiction to these foundational principles.
The Bishop asserts, “If religion is merely subjective, and grows by a process of evolution extending to the supernatural, then all the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church, down to the minutest details, change their meaning.” He goes on to emphasize that such a subjective conception of revelation is not in line with Catholicism and underscores the Pope’s condemnation of this Modernist heresy as false and derogatory to Christ, the founder of Christianity.
Cardinal Ewen tackles the core issue, stating, “Modernism is not Catholicism, and no logic can assimilate them both. They are in opposition all through.” He draws attention to the conflict in matters of authority, pointing out that if the Modernist conception of religious progress were accurate, those who most vividly experience these needs should be the agents for the realization of progress. This, however, leads to an upside-down interpretation of the Church’s structure and teachings.
The Bishop asserts that the Pope and the Bishops hold a divine commission to interpret and teach the Catholic faith, and the laity, in turn, must receive and adhere to these teachings. This traditional structure, Cardinal Ewen argues, is established by Christ himself, and attempts to reverse this order are fundamentally misguided. He firmly states, “If one is a Catholic, he believes these things, and if he does, he must hold with the Pope, who simply protests against an attempt to reverse the order which Christ has established.”
In the context of the ongoing challenges within the Church, Cardinal Ewen’s essay stands as a beacon of clarity and orthodoxy. It serves as a call to arms against the encroachment of Modernist ideas and a reminder of the timeless teachings of Cardinal Newman. As debates on the direction of the Church continue, Limerick’s Cardinal Ewen emerges as a steadfast defender of tradition, wielding the wisdom of Newman to navigate the turbulent waters of theological discourse.
Catholic Times and Catholic Opinion – Friday 07 February 1908
