Star.
London, England, 1824-09-09 00:00:00

CATHOLICS IN GERMANY.

—essoom—.
FROM TSB lIIIRCH PAPIRR.
FRANKFORT, AUG. 20.
'A sensation begins to be excited throughout Germany
'by the complaints of the Catholics, who, by the last
treaties of peace and other territorial arrangements, have
been transferred to the dominion of the Grand Duke of
Weimar. A pamphlet has just been published, which
contains on the one hand the law enacted by the Grand
Duke on the relations of the Catholic Church and
Schools, dated the 7th of October, 1823, and on the
other, the representation made by the Episcopal Vicar
of Fuldar, under whose administration the Catholics of
Weimar are placed for religious matters. By virtue of
this law, emanating from the temporal power of a Pro-
testant Prince, all the new episcopal ordonnances, all
the decrees of Synods and councils—lastly, all bulls,
and briefs, and other resolutions of the Holy See, ad-
dressed either to the Catholic Church in general, or to
an ecclesiastical institution, a parish, or even to a Ca-
tholic inhabitant of the Grand Duchy, whatever may
be their object,lwithout any distinction, can neither be
published nor registered, till they have been previously
laid before the temporal authorities for their approbation.
Whoever in the Grand Duchy shall violate this ordon-
nance, or concur in such a violation, shall be proceeded
against and severely punished. The same formal assent
of the St to is necessary for all the anterior ordonnatices
of the Holy See (consequently for the whole canon law),
as soon as it is intended to carry them into effect.
While in all other matters the tribunals are nearly in-
dependent, abuses are always presumed in the religious
tribunals; there is, therefore, an appeal to the authority
of the Sovereign from all the decisions of the spiritual
authority, especially when they prescribe penance or
fines for the refractions of the ecclesiastical laws. The
temporal Protestant Government determines the holi-
days which the Catholics may or may not celebrate,
and fixes others at its pleasure, the liturgy of which
shall be prescribed by the episcopal authority, reserving
the approbation of the Sovereign.
The Catholic Clergy shall read in the Churches prayers, the
forms of which shall be communicated to them : he shall name
the Governors of the primary schools; a notice only shall be sent
to the Bishop.
When the Bishop intends to visit in person Catholic Churches
and the parishes of his diocese, he must first of all give notice to the
Government, which shall decide whether it is proper to adjoin a
temporal Commissioner to this visitation.
The secrecy of confession is not reputed more binding than the
duty of every citizen to avert injury and prejudice to the State and
to individuals, or to prevent the fatal consequences of a crime
committed.

If the Bishop pronounces against an ecclesiastic arrest for four
weeks, suspension from his office, deprivation, or any other penalty
which bas civil effects, his sentence can neither be ratified nor exe-
cuted without the arprobation of the Sovereign.
Catholics and Protestants may intermarry ; but they are not free
to agree together in which religion the children shall be bronght up.
The secular authority orders the separation of married persons, and
allows Catholics who are separated to contract another marriage, lite.
The Episcopal Vicar has made a very respectful remonstrance
against this law, oblersing bow contrary it is to the essence of the
Catholic Chinch and to the Treaties.

It !smatter of surprise that this law should proceed from a Prince
who is considered as an enlightened protector of intellectual im-
provement and liberal Ideas.
It is believed that the complaints of the Catholics of Weimar will
be laid before the Diet ; and tkough that assembly has only two Ca-
tholic members, it has given so many proofs of its justice, that it
may be expected to declare the law incompatible with the Act of
Confederatioo, which finally ensures to the CithoUcs the free,lter-
else of' their religion.

T I 14.1 EVENING STAIt.