CHRISTIANAE REIPUBLICAE (On the
Dangers of Anti-Christian Writings
Pope
Clement XIII
Encyclical of
Pope Clement XIII promulgated on 25 November 1766.
To Our Venerable Brothers, all Patriarchs,
Primates, Metropolitans, Archbishops, and Bishops Who Enjoy Grace and Communion
with the Apostolic See.
Venerable Brothers, Greetings and Apostolic
Blessing.
The well-being of the Christian community which
has been entrusted to Us by the Prince of shepherds and the Guardian of souls
requires Us to see to it that the unaccustomed and offensive licentiousness of
books which has emerged from hiding to cause ruin and desolation does not
become more destructive as it triumphantly spreads abroad. The distortion of
this hateful error and the boldness of the enemy has so increased, especially
at this time, in sowing weeds among the wheat either in word or in writing that
unless We lay the scythe to the root and bind up the bad plants in bundles to
burn, it will not be long before the growing thorns of evil attempt to choke
the seedlings of the Lord Sabaoth. For accursed men
who have given themselves over to myths and who do not uphold the stronghold of
Sion from all sides vomit the poison of serpents from
their hearts for the ruin of the Christian people by the contagious plague of
books which almost overwhelms us. They pollute the pure waters of belief and
destroy the foundations of religion.
They are abominable in their activity. Secretly
sitting in ambush, they draw arrows out of the quiver which they shoot at the
righteous in the dark. They have not restrained their impious minds from
anything divine, holy, and consecrated by the oldest religion of all time;
rather in their attack they have sharpened their tongues like a sword. They have
run first of all against God in their pride. Armed with a thick neck, they have
strengthened themselves against the Almighty. They raise
again from the ashes the absurdities of the impious which have been destroyed
so often. They deny God even though He makes Himself known everywhere and comes
before their eyes daily, not because of the dullness of their mind, but only on
the urging of their depraved will. Or else they represent God Himself as lazy
and indolent. They do not respect His providence nor do they fear His justice.
They preach with a detestable and insane freedom of thought that the origin and
nature of our soul is mortal although it was created in the image of the
supreme creator little lower than the angels. Whether they think matter has been
created or foolishly imagine that it is eternal and independent of the causes,
they consider that nothing else exists in this universe. Or else if they are
forced to admit that spirit exists with matter, they exclude the soul from the
spirit's heavenly nature. They are unwilling to understand that in this very
weakness of which we are formed something spiritual and incorruptible abides in
us. By its power we know, act, will, look to the future, attend to the present,
and remember the past.
On the other hand, there are others who, even
if they judge correctly that the fog of earthly reasonings
should be dispelled and the smoke of worldly wisdom should be driven from the
eye of enlightened faith, still dare to examine with human measures the hidden
mysteries of faith which surpass all understanding. Having become investigators
of greatness, they are not afraid of being overwhelmed by its glory. They
ridicule the faith of simple people. They lay open the mysteries of God. They
rashly discourse on questions concerning the highest matters. The bold mind of
the enquirer takes everything for itself, examines everything, reserves nothing
for faith, and deprives faith of merit by seeking proof for it in human reason.
Should we not also be angry with those who use
the most wicked indecency of word and example to
corrupt pure and strict morals by mortal sin, who recommend to the minds of the
unwary an accursed license of living, and who cause an extreme loss of faith?
Then consider how they sprinkle their writings with a certain refined splendor,
a seductive pleasantness of speech and allurement so as to penetrate more
easily into the readers' minds and infect them more deeply with the poison of
their error. Thus they will give the snake's poison in the cup of Babylon to
the unwary who are seduced and blinded by their smooth speech and so do not
recognize the poison that kills them. Finally, who can avoid deep sadness when
he sees the bitter enemy exceed the bounds of modesty and due respect and
attack with the publication of outrageous books now in open battle, now in
dissimulated combat the very See of Peter which the strong redeemer of Jacob
has placed as an iron column and as a bronze wall against the leaders of
darkness. Perhaps they are led on by the desperate thought that if they shatter
the head of the Church, they will be able more freely to tear to pieces its
members.
2. Therefore since the Holy Spirit has made you
bishops to govern the
Since you have been constituted ministers of
Christ for the nations, in order to make holy his Gospel, exert yourselves and
do everything in your power both by word and example to cut down the shoots of
falsehood. Block up the corrupt springs of vice. Sound the trumpet in case as
their leader you have to account for the souls who are lost. Act according to
the position you hold, according to the rank with which you are vested, and
according to the authority which you have received from the Lord. In addition,
as nobody could or should avoid sharing in this sadness and insofar as there is
one common reason for everyone to grieve and to help in this great crisis of
faith and religion, call to your aid when it is necessary the time-honored
piety of Catholic leaders. Explain the cause of the Church's sorrow and arouse
its beloved sons who have always served it well on many occasions to bring their
help. Since they do not carry the sword without cause, urge them with the
united authority of state and of priesthood, to vigorously rout those accursed
men who fight against the armies of
It is principally your duty to stand as a wall
so that no foundation can be laid other than the one that is already laid.
Watch over the most holy deposit of faith to whose protection you committed
yourselves on oath at your solemn consecration. Reveal to the faithful the
wolves which are demolishing the Lord's vineyard. They should be warned not to
allow themselves to be ensnared by the splendid writing of certain authors in
order to halt the diffusion of error by cunning and wicked men. In a word, they
should detest books which contain elements shocking to the reader; which are
contrary to faith, religion, and good morals; and which lack an atmosphere of
Christian virtue. We manifest to you Our great happiness in this matter that
most of you, following the apostolic customs and energetically defending the laws
of the Church, have shown yourselves zealous and watchful in order to avert
this pestilence and have not allowed the simple people to sleep soundly with
serpents.
Certainly We who are
distressed and distracted by Our concern for all the churches and for the
salvation of the Christian people, are unsparing of Our efforts, and We promise
you assistance too in your own grave danger. Meanwhile, We will not cease to
ask God with deep humility to grant you help from His holy place to deflect the
cunning of the insidious enemy and to entirely fulfill the duties of your
ministry. As a pledge of the desired outcome, we lovingly impart Our apostolic
blessing to you and your flock.
Given in