Louis Veuillot: The Liberal Illusion [1866]

[Stone]

The Liberal Illusion

Chapter V

This foe is not one to be despised, even though he be equipped with nothing more formidable than chimeras. There are some chimeras that reason may not safely attack single-handed; for it would be sure to be defeated, not by the chimeras, but by the complicity of human souls.

Human souls are sick, and sick with a terrible disease: they are tired of the truth and afraid of it! In souls that are still Christian this disease manifests itself in a lack of horror for heresy, in a chronic state of complacency towards error, in a certain fascination for snares, often in a shameful eagerness to let oneself be caught. It is not an entirely modern ailment, for it is rooted in the very heart of man. “I love to be caught,” exclaims St. Augustine. Father Faber speaks of it as the characteristic political physiognomy of our time. The liberal siren conceals her poisonous locks, shows her rosy face, and holds the cross in her hand. She easily lures victims to the brink of the abyss; she seduces the eyes, the reason, the heart. Unless the spirit of obedience guards us, we are taken captive. We must be eternally vigilant, in order to remain the same, in order not to become suddenly different.

The siren’s song evokes dangerous echoes. Not a few of the so-called liberal maxims are specious and more than embarrassing for whoever fails to meet them with flat contradictions. Now, the Faith alone provides us with these victoriously flat contradictions. There is nothing so perilous as shuffling on the matter of words. Treason in words will soon compass the ruin of principles in a secretly tempted soul. Let us not forget that heresy excels in pampering all weaknesses and in turning to account all lusts. Liberal Catholicism is a very convenient garment to wear: it makes a perfect court robe, academic robe, robe of glory; it lends the colors of pride without transgressing the counsels of prudence; it has entree to the Church and it is welcome in all palaces and even in all taprooms.

Great advantages surely, and all to be had at what seems to be quite a low price. Only a few liberal words to be accepted, only a few “intolerant” words to be foresworn — this is all that is required; even less than that, a hurrah for that fellow, a boo for somebody else — the liberal church exacts no other profession of faith. But once a man pronounces the sacramental words, he is already far on the way. This simple shifting of words quickly brings about an enormous shifting of ideas. Along comes a skillful propagandist who knows just how to throw a veil over the nudities of a conscience already hankering to deceive itself, and the liberal thesis triumphs. What is true is found to be false, and vice versa. One can henceforth tolerate and even repeat outrageous statements. One no longer experiences any difficulty in admitting that from a century back everything has radically changed, not only on Earth but even in Heaven; that there is a new humanity on Earth, a new God in Heaven. Sure mark of heresy! For by implication, at least, if not in so many words, every heresy has proclaimed this blasphemy. Let us pause here for a moment.