The Catholic Encyclopedia

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Original Preface. The Catholic Encyclopedia, as its = name=20 implies, proposes to give its readers full and authoritative information = on the=20 entire cycle of Catholic interests, action and doctrine. What the Church = teaches=20 and has taught; what she has done and is still doing for the highest = welfare of=20 mankind; her methods, past and present; her struggles, her triumphs, and = the=20 achievements of her members, not only for her own immediate benefit, but = for the=20 broadening and deepening of all true science, literature and art -- all = come=20 within the scope of the Catholic Encyclopedia. It differs from the = general=20 encyclopedia in omitting facts and information which have no relation to = the=20 Church. On the other hand, it is not exclusively a church encyclopedia, = nor is=20 it limited to the ecclesiastical sciences and the doings of churchmen. = It=20 records all that Catholics have done, not only in behalf of charity and = morals,=20 but also for the intellectual and artistic development of mankind. It = chronicles=20 what Catholic artists, educators, poets, scientists and men of action = have=20 achieved in their several provinces. In this respect it differs from = most other=20 Catholic encyclopedias. The Editors are fully aware that there is no=20 specifically Catholic science, that mathematics, physiology and other = branches=20 of human knowledge are neither Catholic, Jewish, nor Protestant; but = when it is=20 commonly asserted that Catholic principles are an obstacle to scientific = research, it seems not only proper but needful to register what and how = much=20 Catholics have contributed to every department of knowledge.=20

No one who is interested in human history, past and present, can = ignore the=20 Catholic Church, either as an institution which has been the central = figure in=20 the civilized world for nearly two thousand years, decisively affecting = its=20 destinies, religious, literary, scientific, social and political, or as = an=20 existing power whose influence and activity extend to every part of the = globe.=20 In the past century the Church as grown both extensively and intensively = among=20 English-speaking peoples. Their living interests demand that they should = have=20 the means of informing themselves about this vast institution, which, = whether=20 they are Catholics or not, affects their fortunes and their destiny. As = for=20 Catholics, their duty as members of the Church impels them to learn more = and=20 more fully its principles; while among Protestants the desire for a more = intimate and accurate knowledge of things Catholic increases in = proportion to=20 the growth of the Church in numbers and in importance. The Catholic = clergy are=20 naturally expected to direct inquirers to sources of the needed = information; yet=20 they find only too often that the proper answers to the questions = proposed are=20 not to be met with in English literature. Even the writings of the best=20 intentioned authors at times disfigured by serious errors on Catholic = subjects,=20 which are for the most part due, not to ill-will, but to lack of = knowledge. It=20 would be fatuous to hope to call into immediate existence a Catholic = English=20 literature adequate to supply this knowledge and correct errors. The=20 Encyclopedia, therefore, is the most convenient means of doing both, = enabling,=20 as it does, the foremost Catholic scholars in every part of the world to = contribute articles in the condensed form that appeals to the man of = action, and=20 with the accuracy that satisfies the scholar.=20

Designed to present its readers with the full body of Catholic = teaching, the=20 Encyclopedia contains not only precise statements of what the Church has = defined, but also an impartial record of different views of acknowledged = authority on all disputed questions. In all things the object of the=20 Encyclopedia is to give the whole truth without prejudice, national, = political=20 or factional. In the determination of the truth the most recent and = acknowledged=20 scientific methods are employed, and the results of the latest research = in=20 theology, philosophy, history, apologetics, arch=C3=A6ology, and other = sciences are=20 given careful consideration.=20

The work is entirely new, and not merely a translation or a = compilation from=20 other encyclopedia sources. The Editors have insisted that the articles = should=20 contain the latest and most accurate information to be obtained from the = standard works on each subject. Contributors have been chosen for their = special=20 knowledge and skill in presenting the subject, and they assume the=20 responsibility for what they have written. Representing as they do = Catholic=20 scholarship in every part of the world, they give the work an = international=20 character.=20

The Encyclopedia bears the imprimatur of the Most Reverend Archbishop = under=20 whose jurisdiction it is published. In constituting the Editors the=20 ecclesiastical censors, he has given them a singular proof of his = confidence and=20 of his desire to facilitate the publication of the work which he has = promoted=20 most effectively by his influence and kindly co-operation.=20

The Editors take occasion on the appearance of this first volume to = express=20 their gratitude to all who have taken part with them in this enterprise; = in=20 particular to the hierarchy for their cordial endorsement; to Catholic=20 publishers and to the editors of the Catholic press for their frequent=20 courtesies; to the contributors for their ready co-operation; to the = original=20 subscribers for their generous support; to the directors of the Company=20 organized specially to produce the work, and to many non-Catholics for = their=20 kindly encouragement.=20

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