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(716) 482 - 0300 - Phone ^= (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax (N« 251) PASTORAL LETTER 0» HtS OBACR THR ARCHIIISHOP OP CYRSKK, ADMINI9TRAT0B OF THB ABCHBIOOtSB 0» QUKIIKC, ON THB DDTIBS OF BLECT0B8 DUBINO IHK ELECTIONS. LOUIS-NAZAIRE BEGIN, by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See, Archbishop ok Cyhene, Administbator of the Archdiocese of Queblc, To the Clergy, both Secular and Regular, and to all the Faithful of the said Archdiocese of Quebec, Greeting and Benediction in Our Lord. Dearly Beloved Brethren, The law of your country, which is just and wise, and which you must obey as to God Himself, gives you the right and im- poses on you the duly of choosing the men on whom devolves both ihe enactment of all the laws necessary for the proper government of civil society and the administration of public affairs. It is for ihat reason that you are called to take part in political and municipal elections, at times appointed by the civil authorities in conformity with the law. Our intention, by these presents, is to e.xplain to you briefly and clearly how you should behave in such circumstances, in order that your conscience may have nothing to reproach you before God. What we are going to say applies chiefly to political elections for the Parliameiu and the Legislature, but likewise, in due proportion, to the — 2 — mtinicipal and other plections in which yon have orcasionally to take part. I Above all, Our Dearly Bclovcl lircllircn, we uinst warn yon against two eminently pernicions errors which are seeking to gain credit amongst yon, and wiiieli would soon lead yon to the ahandoimient of Catholic I'aith and morals. The hrst of lln'se two errors t(!ach(;s that yon mnst bo Chris- tians and Catholics in yonr [U'ivate life, but that yon are not bonnd to be snch in yonr [)nb!ic life, whenever yon have occasion lo act in a i)olitical or civil ca[iacity. The second eri'or, which is nothing but a conseqnence of the former, pretends that faults and crimes forbidden by the law of God. cease to Ix; faults and criu;es, when yon are exercising yonr civil or political rights, The first of the two above errors would soon lead us to the condition of those countries wher(,' no liei'd is taken, in the public laws and institutions, of Chri>,liaii Faith nor of the moral law revealed by Ciod. The secnml would he the Juslificalion of p(>rinry, of deceit, of every injustice and vioh,Mice, which are not less o[>posed to the order and widfare of society than to the laws of morality. Those who [ireach to you such errors by word or example, either in their speechc's or throng, tiie press, are not always alive to tlu; consequences of their erroneous doctrine. They are usually men blinded by interest or [lassion, heedless of all provided Ihey reach their ends, which are seldom dis- interesleil. Of snch might we say, as Our l.onl, of the Pharisees : «Theyare lilind. and leaders of the bliml „ (Malih. XV. 14.) They are truly blind, and no bss blind are they that follow them, for they are all iemling lo i)erditioii. Would you be e.xcnsahle, Our Dearly Bcdoved Brethren, to allow yourselves to be deceived by such monstrous errors? Have we not been appointed by thr I'ioly (ihosl your Pastors and Teachei's, to tea( h you in Ibe name (d' liod and of His Church whalsoeviM' you must do as whatsoever you must believe? How could you one day escape God's justice by invoking the teachings \ — 8 — n' ni.'istcrs wliom lie h.illi iiol .'ippoiiitt'd lo leach you nor to oi.wuhli'ii your coiisficucc ? Assui't'dly, Our Dearly Il'lnvd liivllircu, we ilo not pri'lciid that Ihc dulics of your pulilic lilc, as cilizens, ai'i' i;i nowise (lillerenl from certain oilier dulies you have lo [ji'iforin in your private life. But the very acl:. of your |)riviUe life are lar froui beiui; all alike and llie saun' Workin,!.', sleeping, eating and prayinj,', ai'e oeciipalions very dill'ercnl IVoni one anolh^r. Yet, ac'oi'ilin.ij; lo the Apostle, they all concern the yhjry oftiod and your own sanctirication, and must sprin,i; fioni the same supiM'- uatni'a! principle which I'endeis them holy and deserving of life eli'rual. In like nnnnei', the duties of your public life are (]uito dilTerenl from those of youi' private life : but they are none the less imposed by the same will of God, and must, he none the less performed with a view lo life eternal. Not only Faith, but common seiis(; itself l(dls yon ihal, if yon must perform in a Christian spirit the hvist of your actions, and evtMi those thai seem the least connected with religion, you must likewise, in a Glii'istian s[iirit, fulfil the more important obligations of you public and civil life. In truth, in each one of us, there are not two distinct i,ersons. the oui! a Christian, and the other, not a Christian, the oni\ a Catholic, and the other that may oi' may not bi; a Catliolic There .is, in each one of us, but oui' and a single man, who is bound to be a Christian and a Catholic in all his thoughts, in all his words and all his actions. Wherefoic, if, wherever you are? you are Catholics, in whatsoever you do, you musl act as Catho- lics. Would it not bi; supremely unreasonable to say, for e.vample, that a tradesman must act as a Christian and a Catholic while he is in church and is performing acts of religion, but that he is no more a Christian and a Catholic in his business transactions or behind hiscountt>r, and that, as a tradesman, he is aintMiable only to his own will, and is imbipendeni, of every principle Catholic faith and morals ? .\nd what would you think of a father who would not wa'ch over his household, braving it a pn'v to scandal and disord(M' ? That such a one is an unworthy Christian, an unworthy Catholic. — 4 — Yon would jii(i,L.'t' him ;is(loi>.siIii''A[)()sll<':<(If .-iiy man havo not (MPcoriiis own, .ind I'sp.'cially of lliosc of liis lionsf. lie Imih ilcnii'd tlie faith, and is worse Ihan an inlidid. „ (I Tim. V H.' Ainlifsnch a man prt'lcadcd as an I'xcnsi-, ||i;ii ii is nol as a Christian and a Catholic that In- is acting- thus, l)iii ni.Tclyas tlio fafh.'rofa family, yon wonid ri-htly answer him tlial there are not in liini (wo ni-n, th • one a Calhohc, and the other, a father, hntone only man, who is hound to I. ' simply a ChiisliJm and Catholi(; father of his family. Wliat yon wonld say of tradesmen and falhi-rs, as in the above fi.xamples, we say it likewise unto yon of citizens and pnblio men, whalsoevei' th"ir rank or staiidinj,'. Yon should therefore. Our Dearly Beloved Brethren, helieve that all the actsofyonr civil and political life must, like those of your private life, h- inspired and directed hy a Caliiolic cons- cience And that Catholic eonscn-nc." that shonld he vonrs, yon know thai it is shaped by ih^- leachin-s and by the aiilhorily of the Chnrch, of whom Guholics must learn both the truths that they shonld believe and th-dulies they shonld practise. Her lea- ching is the supreme rule of morals as it is the rule ofour Faith. If ,von have understood that yon must remain Christians and Cathohcs in your [mblic as well as in yonr private lilV. you hkewiSL' understand that your conscience, as well iu one as in the other, remains suhj.-ct t.. th..^ anlhoritv of the Church and to the hi w of God Assuredly, Onr Dearly Beloved I Bretlnvu, no one will dare poblicly to teach that the law of (iod no more obliges dnrin^ the elections eith,.r candidates or voters, and that politicians may easily dispense therewith, li would be better for you were such an error taught yon rather I.v word and less by deed' lis easier for us to censure the doctrine than the conduct of those who scandalize yon and ruin public morals. The great evil. Our Dearly Beloved Brethren, ,s that manv of those who .should set you an example, behave as if, in politics, there were no moral law to observe. Nobody condemns those politicians who publiciv criticize and attack, 1,1 speeches or iu the press, a government Ihev wish to defeat ormen whom they wonld like to see ousted horn ofTice, rn'oviilcil that in lh.it parly-stfilo which is inevilahle in a coniilry tMiduwi'd asoiirs with .'I parliaini'iiiaiy systi.'in ol' j"^vorimi('iit' tht'y ivii.lt'r not iL.Mns.dvcs -nilLy ol' any lanll aj^ainsl (Jod', against nciyhbor or against, aocit'ly ilscll'. In itolitical as in oilier vvarl'aiL', loyal and lawful aims arc alone allowed; and the end in view mnsl be the pulilie weal. Not more in eltM-tion time llian in any other, is any one free to avoid the law ol' God and His Iwdy will. Not more in matters politic or civil than in any oilier, llic conslitution ordering yon lo freely give your voti' to ihr men of yonr choice allows you any nnju-t or dishoi.e^t nleans to assiirt; theii' trinmpli or that of your own opinions. Kven were such the will of tht; consli- tution, il would not be possible. The law of the laud might add lo the obligations whicli God has laid upon us either bv the natural law or by His rommaudments, or by the precepts of the (llinrch, but it is powerless in any case to free'you therefrom. The civil law will not, therefore, at the judgment seat of God, absolve you of ihe transgressions of ihe divine law of which you may be guilty. On the contrary, it will accuse yon and render yonr condemiialion mont dreadful; for the faults committed in your public life always involve more or less scandal, and injure not only a few private individuals, but the entire commonwealth. II ShouliI we. Our Dearly Beloved Brethren, warn you against the faults into which you may be more easily led dnriui' election- lime ? One of the most grievous, assuredly, is perjury. Yon become guilty of that enormous crime against God and society, not only when, under oalh, -on tell a fal^ehood or disguise the truth but each lime ihal yon are wilfully the cause of a false oalh Beware, therefore, lest, by violating the just laws made to en- sure honest eleclious, you expose yourselves or others to perjury. Respect the holiness of the oath by asking or commanding U only when absolutely necess: v to save important interests or for the efhcacious protection < justice; for if it is a shameful and — 6 — aliominablo crime to commit or to causf a perjury, il is no less a Hill aRaiiisl God and society lo iliscredil solt«nin swearing ami m lower it ill tlie eyes of the people, by illdiscrei-tly deinaii. (ling it for reasons tiuil are neither Kravi; nor iniporlaiit. lor the sole purpose of aniioyinj,' an opponent, or ol' breoiliiif,' aj,'aiiisl hnn niijiisliliable_.,iispioions. Remember likewise that, if justice does not forbid yon to estimate and to coiideinn the public acts of political men, il never, however, permits yon lo do so nnjnslly. If it be neces- sary, for the public |,'0()d,t(i discuss, in your hearing, the advan- tages ami inconveniences of (•erlaiii h'gal or administrative measnres.so lliatyoii may with due knowledge judge what men deserve your conlideiice and your vote, it is never lawful to resort to slander, much less to caliinuiy, against candidiiles or poHlicians. Now, tbo sin of slander, and often of grievous slander, is in- cnrred. whenever are divulged the private faults or defects of a public man, when suili fiiults m nowise concern his civil and political duties or functions. Such sins of slander, when in grievous matters, are certainly mortal for whomsoever puts them in circulation or repeals them to others. More grievous still and less pardonable are the calumnies which through passion and party-spirit are invented against the private 01' the publi(! life of candidates and other political cha- racters. Now, there is calumny each time that one attributes to his neighbor a fault which he has not committed or which cannol be proved : for every man has a right lo his reputation as long as it cannot be proved that he is guilty. Judge thereby how guilty bi'fore God, and how despised by all Christians and alljiisl and honest citizens, an; and sliould be those v/iiteis and sjieakers who invent for the benefit of their cause facts that have never existed, wdio without foun- dation attribute to their adversaries intentions they never har- bored; purposely travesty and misrepresent public actions, showing Climes and scandals wlieie there may be notliing else than a mere want of skill and forethought, or even perfect ho- nesty and prudence. -7- Surh caliiniiiics easily bciomf acts of the most grievous injiis. tice, ami, like all siieli, (l(>iiiaii(l repaialioii. Not only mu»l lhi.>y be acciisi'il al tlif ti'ibmial of iieiiaiifc, but tbe ,'.cc,iisatioii of siu-li faults ami llic sorrow it begets will iievef obtain paidoii lliereol', il' I here bi} no n^paration made, in so uincli as possible, for the harm tiny have bron;ibl to the reputation and riKlilful interests of the neighbor. Hesju'ct justice, imt only by carefully avoiding' all that may unjnslly touch your neighbor's reputation, but by complying with Ibe just and wise laws enacted to ensure the honesty of elections. To infringe such laws is to sin at the same lime against one's neigiibor and against society. All your fe||ow-citi/ens (inalified by law have a right to canvass for your voles foi' pulilic oHices, audit would be iupjui- tons to depnv(! them of a right which is guaranteed them by the conslitutiou, or lo pnjveut the exercise thereof by means that consci(!nce rightly forbids and coiidenms as I'onlrary lo natur.il equity and the jmblic good. It is, then!fore,an iniquity to win an election or even a single vote by a falsidiooil, by a fraud, by int<'mperance, by unjust ai;d illicit promises, by every intlueucc that, instead of enligi.- tening the electors, imi)assions them, purposely blinding them, to pievenl them from judging with justice, and from freely following the dictates of a rightly formed and well eiiligh- tt-'ued conscience The laws do not and cannot forbid you to intlueuce the votes of your fellow-citizens. On the contrary, it is your right and sometimes your duty to exert the influence you may possess over them to aid and direct them in tbe fulfilment of their duties as citizens. It is a duty of charity towaids your brethren, it is a duly of true pati'ioiism towards your country. The law only forbids you to influence them by such unjust and immoral means as are condemned by natural justice and by Chiislian morality. Work for the welfare of your country, not by rousing the passions and prejudices of your fellow-citizens, but by forming — 8 — their jiidgmonl accordiiif,' to juslico and doing what is in your powi.'r to liiilighliMi their conscience. Ill We have still to treat of a snl)jecl more difllcnlt and delicate than the foregoing. We shall address yon with the same frank- ness and the same clearness, becanse we have nanght else in view than God's interesis and tiiose of yonr sonls, being assnred that, on yonr part, yon will listen to onr counsels as coming from God Himself : « God as it were (>xhoi'ting by ns.» (II Cor. V, 20.1 It is not enongh to avoid pei'jnry, slander, calumny, injnstice of all kinds, in a word, all that the law of God and natural honesty condemn. It is not enongh to abstain fioni evil; you must also do good. Now, to in order. Two things especially favor and secure pea(;e and ord(>r in civil society : the stability of its institutions and laws, and respect for justice. No doubt, human laws ;ind insli- lutions are (Essentially variable, because they arc; imp rl'ect, and may be modified by lime and circumstances. But, on the oLlit.'r hand, nothing is more contrary lo good order and the peace of society ihan the instability of the institutions and laws that goviM'ii it. This means. Our Dejuly Beloved Brethnn, that under ordinary circumstances, if you are desirous of the good of your country, you must give your votes to wise and prudent men who govern according to tradition and acquired e.\[)erience, rather than to rash and adventurous spirits always ready to believe and lo say Ihat, in order lo improve the condition of I-' — 10 — sociely, oviM-ylhiiis must b,' siibvcilcd and chaii^ed. Il, matlnrs iherefori' uM-i'atly IVii' piiblir ordci' and ]it'aci' tbal ymi fjivc youi- voles to 'ncii \vbf» arc aiiinialcd with love and respect, foi'. and have Ihe e.\peiieni>' id', (lii> inslilnlions ol" Ibe countiy. and who will eiideavoi' to render Iheni more jicrbuM, rallier lliaii to alter and desli'oy Ibeni. It is not less important lliat yon (boose to ijovei'ii yonr eonn- ti'y men whose disinliMvsledness and dcvoledness are well known to yon, as well as liieir unallerable love and in'olound resp(H't for jn>!iee. Foi' (jnler exis's in soriely. and with order Ibe peace and union id' all cili/ens. only Ibi'on.u;!) Ibe I'espect and protection (d' the I'lu'bts ol' all. lie is not woiiby lo lake part in tilt! governineni ot his counlry, who is nol able lo place pnlilic b,?b3ri! privale inleresi, nr who would wii'iuf^ly sacrihce iho riuhls of his bdlow-cilizens under ibe false pretext of public wisdom, Theouiy public wisdom capabb' of urocnriuti- a nation's good, is llial which prolecis all i-iubis, iii so mueli as tln'v may be protected, ami I'^pi'i'sses every injustice, in so much asil may be repressed. Finally. Our D.'arly Bidov.'d Brelbreu, llu' lasl .and still very impoi'laut .^ood of a country, is i;s temporal i)i'osperily. It is Ibe [ii'opei' end of civil soeielv. 'i'hre(> (I'.ialitics are necessary in yonr repr('sentatives in ordei' to labor (dncaciously I'm' the U ui- poi'al uood of yonr couuli'y : th^y ai'e houesly. iiUtdliueiice and experience of jiublic atl'airs. The most imfiorlanl and noct>ssary of these tbrt>e qualities is honesty, provided Ihal il ho associa:e I with a lirm and sound judgmenl. For. without honesty, intelli,u-eiice •■iiid experieni'i> only serve to b'ti'ay yon more sui'cessfuUy, and to betle!' con- ceal the smi'ender of yonr trui' iulei'ests. llowevei', in many circnmstances. houesly alone is nol siiineienl lo jirotecl and etfica ciously serve your true iutei'e-ls, altboiiub il may sa\(! Ihem fi'om bein.L; b'trayeti. Wbend'ore, you would art wisely in cboosiu.n- amoiiu- the most niiri.Lrbt and honest those wbo [)Ossess the ui'eatest sum of inlelliu'euce and experience. But lo what jiraelical niiMUs will you resoi'l :n oi'der not to ei'r in yonr choice'.'' You sball s.'(d\ to know the men wlio canvass for your vote. « You would be inns! imprudent •. indeed, iiwcr: 1^ — 11'- (I you to give your voto to Iho first i omer who presents himself « with hue words and -raud pi'ouiises, without taking pains to (I ascertain his ability, and especially his principles. Examine « carefully how far yon can rely on each candidate for the pro- « lection of.your religious as well as of your temporal interests. » (Pastoral letter of Ffi.^ Grace Archbishoi) Taschereau, Mav 25, 187(5). ■' Hxamine therefo'-. by yourselves to know the character, the conduct, the priuciides of a candidate. Listen lo his speeches and weigh his reasons, and submit Iheui whem.'ver I'equisite to the appreciation of educated men who an; fit to approve of them or to answer them. Examim; what men recommend the can- didate to your conlldence, who are his friends, who his adver- saries. And, whenever he belongs to a dc-fmite political parly, *ry lo understand the [iriuci plesaud the jji'ogramme oi'such a party, and in what they seem lo you .ulvantageons for. or contrary to, the moral and leni[)oral good of lie- country. Listen attentively, und without having made up your mind beforehand, to the discussion of Jpolitical questions on which you may have to form your jmlgniiMit. Do not place a blind trust in a [)arty-ii(!wspa[)iM' whicti often disfigures facts, and seeks only to delude you regarding the leaders it serves and to prejudice you against those it combats. It is often by comparing contradictory j udgnKuils and assertions that you may discover tilt! truth. Finally, Our Dearly Beloved Brethren, in order to act pru- dently, you should, iu such circumslani;es, take advice of wiser than yourselves. If there be in your parish a man wise, learned, conscicMitious, whom you would like to consult on any affair that might coucm-n the honor or the future of your family if above all, such a man be religious, and fearing God, and seem to you not to be inspired by iiassiou nor engaged in political party-intrigues, it is from him that you may expect the explana- tion or information i^Hiuisite to form your judgment. Nothing prevents you, if you cannot otherwise seriously form your eon.science, from exposing your doubts to, and asking advice of, him who, having one day to answer for your soul before the judgment-seat of God, is bound more than any one -16- else lo aid you in properly fulfilling all your duties as Christians and citizens. You shall medilalo before God, Our Dearly Beloved Brethren these grave instructions. You shall beg of Him the grace to fully understand them and carefully put them into practice, being convinced Ihatthey will teach you how to be good citizens without ceasing to be true Christians. The present pastoral letter shall be read and published at the prone; in all churches and parochial chapels or others where i)u- blic service is held, Ihe Sunday following its I'eception. Given at Quebec under our signature, the seal of the Arch- diocese and the counter-signature of our Secretary, the first of March, one thousand eight hundred and ninety seven. f L.N. Archb. of Cyrkne, Adminislralor. By order of His Grace. B. Ph. Garneau, Fst, Score lary. N. B. — The abov(.' I'astoral Letter will be substituted to the letter of May 25th 187G, which will cease to be read nntil fur- ther notice.