Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/167



HUMAN LIBERTY. IW

approve the separation of Church and State, think never- ^ theless that the Church ought to adapt herself to the times and conform to what is required by the modern system of government. Such an opinion is sound, if it is to be understood of some equitable adjustment consistent with truth and justice; in so far, namely, that the Church, in the hope of some great good, may show herself indulgent, and may conform to the times in so far as her sacred office permits. But it is not so in regard to practices and doctrines which a perversion of morals and a warped. judgment have unlawfully introduced. Religion, truth, and justice, must ever be m.aintained; and, as God has intrusted these ^reat and sacred matters to the caie of the Church, she can never be so unfaithful to her office as to dissemble in regard to what is false or unjust, or to con- nive at what is hurtful to religion.

From what has been said, it follows that it is quite unlawful to demand, to defend, or to grant unconditional freedom of thought, of speech, of writing, or of worship, as if these were so many rights given by nature to man. For if nature had really granted them, it wovld be lawful to refuse obedience to God, and there would be no restraint on human hberty. It likewise follows that freedom in these things may be tolerated wherever there is just cause; but only with such moderation as will prevent its degen- erating into license and excess. And where such liberties are in use, men should employ them in doing good, and should estimate them as the Church does; for hberty i? to be regarded as legitimate in so far only as it affords greater facility for doing good, but no farther.

Whenever there exists, or there is reason to fear, an unjust oppression of the people on the one hand, or a deprivation of the liberty of the Church on the other, it is lawful to seek for such a change of government as will bring about due liberty of action. In such case an eiKces- sive and vicious liberty is not sought for, but only some Telief, for the common welfare, in order that, while hcense