The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-11 00:00:00

STATE OF NAPLES.

A letter from Naples, dated March 4, says :
I send you to-day a document of the highest im-
portance, as showing the spirit and assumption:of
that church conventionally called the " Holy
Catholic and Apostolic." Failing in arms tem-
poral, this most Christian institution next bethought
itself of arms spiritual for winning back the
Italians to the embraces of their divinely appointed
rulers; and the regulations which I send you are
the cunning invention for that purpose. The Sacra
Pocnitentiaria in Rome is a kind of supreme court
of conscience, before which priests, and for all I
know civilians too, lay all their doubts, and de-
mand a solution of them. " What are we to in-
sinuate in confession P How are we to regulate
ourselves and our -penitents in certain given cir-
cumstances P" There is therefore in the Eternal
City a central power which puts the screw, through
the clergy, on the consciences of the millions who
really or nominally belong to the Papal Church,
and this terrible power has been doing its worst
for several months to stir up civil strife in this
country. The bishops of the Bourbons had their
doubts and fled for counsel to the Sacra Pceniten-
tiaria. The document which I send you contains
both the doubts and solutions. A few years ago,
or even now, with a slight alteration in the
circumstances of the country, this document
would have created a religious war, and all the
horrors which were perpetrated in 1799 under the
auspices of Cardinal Ruffo might have been perpe-
trated in 1861 under the influence of a few strokes
of the pen from Cardinal Cagiano. But, happily,
the blow has fallen without inflicting any injury,
and the secret instructions which I now send you
that the spirit
of
Apostolicg Church is
will have
Haveoltyheßansoomleeffecthcatofoliperovin
incompatible with constitutional and social liberty.
These instructions must speak for themselves :
" DOUBTS AND ANSWERS.
" 1. Is it lawful to sing the Te I)eum on occa-
sions of the proclamation of the usurping Govern-
ment or on other analogous occasions P
" R. No.

" 2. Is it lawful to recite during the mass and in
other sacred functions the Collect for the King,
when ordered by the invading Government?
" R.—No.
" 3. Is it lawful to take any part in the religious
functions ordered by the sub-Alpine laws on the
anniversary of the statutes ?
"R.—No.

"4. Is it lawful to illuminate dwelling-houses
on the occasion of the inauguration of the new
Government, or on other similar oocasions ; and,
likewise, is it lawful to wear the insignia of the
new Government—each as cockades, tri-coloured
bands ?

"R.—No; provided great evils do not threaten,
and there is no scandal.

"5. Can the Government authorities be invited
by the clergy to ecclesiastical functions; and,
should they present themselves without invitation,
can the clergy offer them acts of honour according
to the ceremonial ?

- - " R.—No; and they present themselves
the clergy should be passive or abstain from the
acts of honour prescribed by the ceremonial.
"6. Can the municipal magistrates be received
in the church, and may the aforesaid acts be offered
to them ?

"R.—Yes ; provided, however, that the magis-
trates have not committed the acts repiobated by
the apostolic letters of March 26, 1860 ; otherwise
as in the preceding directions.
" 7. Is it lawful to enrol oneself in the Civic or
National Guard which has been ordered by the
usurping Government for its support in the pro.
vinces usurped by it?
" R. No.

" 8. What must be said about those persons who
have been enrolled against their will, and compelled
to form part of the same guard ?
" R.—lt is lawful to tolerate citizen soldiers
under compulsion, who cannot leave the service
without serious injury or inconvenience ; provided,
however, that they are prepared is mind to leave it
as soon as possible, and in the meantime to abstain
from all hostile acts against the subjects and sol-
diers of the legitimate Prince, and from acts against
good laws and ecclesiastics.
" 9. Is it permitted to the parish priests to give
the lists demanded by the usurping Government
for the National Guard and the military levies in
the usurped provinces ?
; and wherever the books shall have
been taken away, let them be passive.
" 10. Ls it permitted to take any part in the vot-
ing for forming the municipal councils and repre-
sentatives, and may those elected retain the office
of councillor and magistrate P
"R.—lt may be tolerated, provided the muni-
cipal officers do not execute those things which are
in opposition to Divine and ecclesiastical laws, and
abstain from taking the oath after the form pro-
posed by the usurping authorities.
" 11. Is it permitted to contend for the magis-
tracies, and to accept them when any one shall be
called by a commune, or even by the Government,
always abstaining from giving his adhesion to the
Government, and from committing any act which
may be regarded as a recognition of it ?
"R.—Yes, if scandal be removed by his presence,
and on the conditions explained in the demand,
especially on the condition that in teaching they
may conform themselves altogether to the Catholic
doctrine.

" 12. According to the indulgence already trans-
mitted by the Santa Pcenitentiaria can the admi-
nistrators of the loca pia, occupied by the usurping
Government, be empowered by the ordinaries to
continue in the administration, or can those who
are chosen again by the illegal authorities be em-
powered to accept it?
"R.—The Santa Pecnitentiaria by special and
express authority grants to all and each of the ordi-
naries whose territories have been occupied by the
usurping Power the faculty to hold good for six
months, provided that from the persons appointed
no adhesion to the Government be required, or any
oath of fidelity according to the form proposed by
the same Government, and on condition of looking
after the utility of the loca pia and of abstaining
altogether from the alienation of their property.
" 13. Can persons retain or assume offices under
the usurping Government P
"R.—Provided they are not offices which directly
and immediately tend to spoliation, or to the kaep-
ing of things taken, and which may be exercised
without injury to Divine and ecclesiastical laws, it
may be tolerated ; but let every one of the said
officials, or persons of the Papal power, be carefully
admonished to consult the bishop or ordinary of the
place, who in each case shall decide as to the inten-
tions of our most sacred lord.

" 14. Is it permitted to take the oath proposed by
the usurping Government in the following or simi-
lar terms, which comprise an unlimited obedience :
' I swear fidelity and obedience to Victor Emmanuel,
King of Italy, and to his successors. I swear to
observe the statute and every law of the State, for
the inseparable good of the King and of, the coun-
try, Italy.
" R.—The oath as here laid down is not per-
mitted, but an oath of obedience purely passive
may be tolerated in all those things which are not
opposed to Divine and ecclesiastical laws, accord-
ing to the form approved by Pius VII., and ex-
pressed in these words :—' I promise and swear to
take no part in any conspiracy whatever, plot, or
sedition against the actual Government; as also to
be subject and obedient in all that is not contrary
to the law of God and of the Church.'
" I& How are the ordinaries to regulate them-
selves as regards the Royal placet and exequatur,
which the Government pretends to in the case of
bulls, briefs, and Pontifical rescripts ?

" R.—They must not molest private persons who
for their security recur to the Government for the
Royal placet or exequatur ; but the ordinaries, as
far as in them lies, must be passive, and if they
have been questioned by the Government on de-