[pascendi]

"You ignore Popes when they pronounce on the legitimacy of democratic republics..."

No pronouncement has been made.

"...just like you ignore them when they prounounce on the baptism of desire."

No pronouncement has been made.

Private interpretations on your part? Those have been made.

You go whip out Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae and read for yourself. For the first time, no doubt.

See for yourself if it don't wipe your Americanist be-hind.

Cafeteria quoters...

[sinkspur]

From the foregoing it is manifest, beloved son, that we are not able to give approval to those views which, in their collective sense, are called by some "Americanism." But if by this name are to be understood certain endowments of mind which belong to the American people, just as other characteristics belong to various other nations, and if, moreover, by it is designated your political condition and the laws and customs by which you are governed, there is no reason to take exception to the name.

[sinkspur]

You don't even read what you post. Leo XIII in NO WAY condemns the form of government known as democratic republicanism.