Testem Benevolentiae
Encyclopedia
Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae is the name for an apostolic letter of Pope Leo XIII
. The letter was addressed to "Our Beloved Son, James Gibbons, Cardinal Priest of the Title Sancta Maria, Beyond the Tiber, Archbishop of Baltimore", and was promulgated
on January 22, 1899. It concerned the heresy sometimes called Americanism
to ensure that the Church in the United States
did not allow the model of civil liberties
to undermine the doctrine of the Church.
translation
of the biography of Isaac Thomas Hecker.
The translation of Hecker's biography reached France
eleven years after Father Hecker had died. Hecker had remained in good standing with Catholicism from his conversion in adulthood to his death so the controversy revolved around the book. Leo's letter disputed the views expressed by the translator in the book about Isaac Hecker. This translator was seen to have liberal
individualist views seen as contrary to the faith.
and view of individual liberty
. On particularism it was believed that a movement of American Catholics felt they were a special case who needed greater latitude in order to assimilate into a majority Protestant nation. The letter rejected that idea. It maintained that the Catholic Church in the United States
would continue to submit to the Vatican
in the way of the Catholic Church in other nations. This meant American Catholics were to avoid full assimilation or ecumenical overtures toward Protestantism
.
During the 19th century, Catholic doctrine articulated that Protestantism was a heresy
and even a harmful new religious movement
, although the Church under Leo did indicate individual Protestants might well be innocent due to "invincible ignorance". Still, Protestant religions themselves were not to be learned from or accepted as equals. Outside of this issue the article gave the consolation that Catholicism could accommodate to American norms when they did not conflict with doctrinal or moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
than those in the US. France had, after all, been the source of the translation deemed radical. Hence, in many ways, the article was more a warning to France that its Republic was becoming too liberal
or secularist. In any event the letter also stated Americanists had an incorrect view of papal infallibility
that led them to scorn everything not covered by an infallible pronouncement. Lastly, it feared Americans would value their freedom and individualism
so much they would reject the idea of monasteries and the priesthood. Again this is more about the anticlericalism in France at the time because opposition to the idea of monasteries was apparently rare among Catholics in the 19th century United States.
More controversially, the document made clear a rejection of full freedom of the press
for Catholics. At this time the Vatican still had an Index of Prohibited Books. Defenders of the document believe criticizing press freedom was understandable in an age of increasing libel, slander, and incitements of violence in newspapers. Newspaper stories of convents had already inflamed anti-Catholic violence. Further the Spanish-American War
, which many Catholics opposed, was often blamed on William Randolph Hearst
's newspapers and had occurred a year before the letter. Opponents of Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae believe it displayed an ongoing Vatican opposition to democracy
and progress.
Still, both sides tend to agree that Leo XIII wrote in a less condemnatory or at least more tactful manner than most of his immediate predecessors. Critics state this is merely because his immediate predecessors were or became strident reactionaries like Pope Pius IX
. Supporters cite the fact that his encyclical on Americanism
, "Longinqua", spoke of love for America more than condemnation of it.
. In more liberal circles, however, scholars maintain that it largely destroyed Catholic intellectual life in the US for the first half of the twentieth century. And yet, many others hold that its importance has been exaggerated. It does, however, highlight the uneasy relationship between the Holy See
and the United States, a country which did not give full diplomatic relations with the Holy See until the presidency of Ronald Reagan
in the 1980s.
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. The letter was addressed to "Our Beloved Son, James Gibbons, Cardinal Priest of the Title Sancta Maria, Beyond the Tiber, Archbishop of Baltimore", and was promulgated
Promulgation
Promulgation is the act of formally proclaiming or declaring a new statutory or administrative law after its enactment. In some jurisdictions this additional step is necessary before the law can take effect....
on January 22, 1899. It concerned the heresy sometimes called Americanism
Americanism (heresy)
Coined in the nineteenth century, in Roman Catholic use the term Americanism referred to a group of related heresies which were defined as the endorsement of the separation of church and state...
to ensure that the Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
did not allow the model of civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
to undermine the doctrine of the Church.
The reason for the Letter
The name Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae literally means "Witness to Our Good Will." In it Pope Leo expressed criticism regarding what he heard of the culture of Catholics in the United States. These concerns grew from a response to the FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
of the biography of Isaac Thomas Hecker.
The translation of Hecker's biography reached France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
eleven years after Father Hecker had died. Hecker had remained in good standing with Catholicism from his conversion in adulthood to his death so the controversy revolved around the book. Leo's letter disputed the views expressed by the translator in the book about Isaac Hecker. This translator was seen to have liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
individualist views seen as contrary to the faith.
Rejection of American particularism and Ecumenicalism
Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae involved American particularismMulticultural particularism
Multicultural particularism is the belief that a common culture for all people is either undesirable or impossible. In discussions of multiculturalism, historian and educator Diane Ravitch draws a distinction between what she terms "pluralistic" and "particularistic" varieties...
and view of individual liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
. On particularism it was believed that a movement of American Catholics felt they were a special case who needed greater latitude in order to assimilate into a majority Protestant nation. The letter rejected that idea. It maintained that the Catholic Church in the United States
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
would continue to submit to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in the way of the Catholic Church in other nations. This meant American Catholics were to avoid full assimilation or ecumenical overtures toward Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
.
During the 19th century, Catholic doctrine articulated that Protestantism was a heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
and even a harmful new religious movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
, although the Church under Leo did indicate individual Protestants might well be innocent due to "invincible ignorance". Still, Protestant religions themselves were not to be learned from or accepted as equals. Outside of this issue the article gave the consolation that Catholicism could accommodate to American norms when they did not conflict with doctrinal or moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
Negative view of Individual Liberty
On individual liberty, the letter showed a fear that Americanist ideas of individualism would be hostile to the Catholic faith. It expressed fears that Catholics in America would trust their individual conscience more than they would trust the Catholic Church. This assertion, and others in the letter, actually had more to do with Catholics in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
than those in the US. France had, after all, been the source of the translation deemed radical. Hence, in many ways, the article was more a warning to France that its Republic was becoming too liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
or secularist. In any event the letter also stated Americanists had an incorrect view of papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
that led them to scorn everything not covered by an infallible pronouncement. Lastly, it feared Americans would value their freedom and individualism
Individualism
Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that stresses "the moral worth of the individual". Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance while opposing most external interference upon one's own...
so much they would reject the idea of monasteries and the priesthood. Again this is more about the anticlericalism in France at the time because opposition to the idea of monasteries was apparently rare among Catholics in the 19th century United States.
More controversially, the document made clear a rejection of full freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
for Catholics. At this time the Vatican still had an Index of Prohibited Books. Defenders of the document believe criticizing press freedom was understandable in an age of increasing libel, slander, and incitements of violence in newspapers. Newspaper stories of convents had already inflamed anti-Catholic violence. Further the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, which many Catholics opposed, was often blamed on William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
's newspapers and had occurred a year before the letter. Opponents of Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae believe it displayed an ongoing Vatican opposition to democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and progress.
Still, both sides tend to agree that Leo XIII wrote in a less condemnatory or at least more tactful manner than most of his immediate predecessors. Critics state this is merely because his immediate predecessors were or became strident reactionaries like Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. Supporters cite the fact that his encyclical on Americanism
Americanism (heresy)
Coined in the nineteenth century, in Roman Catholic use the term Americanism referred to a group of related heresies which were defined as the endorsement of the separation of church and state...
, "Longinqua", spoke of love for America more than condemnation of it.
Legacy and influence
The legacy of Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae is highly disputed. Among Traditionalist Catholics today there remains widespread support for its statements against ecumenicalism and liberalismLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. In more liberal circles, however, scholars maintain that it largely destroyed Catholic intellectual life in the US for the first half of the twentieth century. And yet, many others hold that its importance has been exaggerated. It does, however, highlight the uneasy relationship between the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and the United States, a country which did not give full diplomatic relations with the Holy See until the presidency of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in the 1980s.