BENEDEDICTUS V

Cum semper, ut ipsi - Apostolic Letter February 10, 1921

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However, Venerable Brothers, We do not wish to conceal from you that We have been greatly alarmed by the reports reaching Us from there of disagreements concerning the ‘Flanders question’, which has been under discussion for some time now. It is certainly a difficult and complex issue; there is no agreement on how to resolve it, either between the two sides or even amongst those on the same side. We shall therefore address only those issues concerning religion, whilst keeping firmly in mind, as is Our duty, the good of souls.

Similarly, our predecessor of blessed memory, Leo XIII, on 20 August 1901, writing to the Bishops of Bohemia and Moravia regarding the disputes that had arisen amongst those peoples over linguistic issues, declared that he did not wish to intervene in those controversies but that he demanded, as a matter of apostolic duty, that religion should suffer no harm as a result. ‘We have decided,’ he wrote, ‘to refrain from settling the disputes on this matter. Certainly, the defence of the national language, provided it remains within certain limits, gives no cause for disapproval; nevertheless, what applies to the other rights of private individuals must also be held to apply in this case, so that the common good may not suffer harm from the continuation of those disputes. It is therefore the duty of the rulers of the State to ensure that the rights of individuals are upheld, in accordance with justice, whilst at the same time safeguarding the common good of the citizens. As far as We are concerned, duty compels Us to take great care to ensure that religion—which is the primary good of souls and the source of all other goods—is not harmed by such disputes.”

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