The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-27 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLICS AB ROAD.

From the parliamentary papers recently published
relating to the regulation of Roman catholic, in
foreign states we make the following extracts :

SWITZERLAND.
The Supreme Federal Tribunal, or Diet, cannot be said
to exercise any positive authority or jurisdiction whatever
in religious concerns, and in fot it is difficult, if not impos-
sible, to my what precise control it possesses in ary matter,
religious or political. Its authority is founded on opinion,
and it possesses no coercive power whatever, independent
'of that opinion ; in other words, whenever coercive mea-
sures may be necessary, a proposition recommending them
must be supported by a majority of yokes, to insure their
execution and success.
It is true, that by the act of Congress, the power of de-
ciding on the preservation or suppression of the bishopric
' of Bile is placed in the hands of the Diet, by which it
might he inferred that the supreme jurisdiction in ecclesias-
tic:a affairs resides in that body. Even the Pope himself
seems to have recognised the same ismer, by recently ap-
pealing to that tribunal on the subject of the restoration of
the Abbot of St. Gall. The simple fact however is, that
the Diet possesses no fixed or specific authority whatever
in matters of religion, and whatever power it may hereafter
be called upon to exercise must depend entirely on the
feelings and circumstances of the moment.
The bishoprics actually established iu Switzerland amount
only to three ; viz., that of Lawianne or Fribourg, that of
Sion, and that of Coin ; to these it is now in contemplation
to add two more, one at Lucern, the other at Soleure or
Porentrui
Besides these indigenous dioceses, however, there are sere-
nil foreign sees, whose juriolivtion embraces various por-
tions of ,this country; fur instance, those of Milan, Como,
rind Annecy, the two former of which comprise within the
circle of their spiritual government the Canton of Ticino,
and the latter a part of Geneva.
Still the relations generally subsisting between church
and state are essentially the same throughout the whole
extent of the confederacy, under whatever spiritual juris-
diction its individual parts may happen to lie.
The bishopric of Lausanne exhibits the only instance
in all Switzerland of a bishop nominated absolutely by
the Pope, without the ooneurreoee or even control cif the
government.
The principal kindred points of conduct amongst all the
' confederate cantons, are :
1. The exercise of a strict superintendence and control
over all religious establishments, by the supreme secular

power.
2. The right of examining into the mode of acquiring and
disposing of all ecclesiastical and monastic property.
3. Liability of all such property to all burdens imposed
by the state on secular possessions.
4. Subjection of all bulls, pastoral letters, &c., to the
Placet or Exequatur of government, prior to their publi-
cation.
The extreme jealousy and watchfulness hitherto con-
stantly felt and exercised by the government of this coun-
try, in all matters where the spiritual and temporal power
were brought into a state of collision with each other, and
where the former may have endeavoured to extend its au-
thority at the CIIICIM of the latter, hare been the means
of preserving this free and happy country from innumerable
eviii and embarra•sment, which hare fallen on others where
that vigilance was wanting. It is to he hoped that neither
threat nor intrigue will ever induce them to alter their con-
duct.