Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-12-24
ROMAN CATH OLICISM
ruouCHoUr THE WORLD.

THoUGHoUT THE WORLD.
The aggregate number of the Pope's spiri-
tual subjects is estimated at lot, O,OOO; while
the number of Protestants amounts only to
S5 900 900, and that of Greek Christians to
20 900 900. All these 10000, 900 Catholics
mostly belonging to civilized nations, are Or
dered to believe only what the pope dizziness
to read only what he permits; and to obey on
" those spiritual leaders whom he appoints
We invite our readers to cast glance over the
various governments and nations OF the world
in their present relations to Rome. We en-
deavor to give, on this subject, the views en-
tertained by Rome itself. The eyeof the Pope
rests with particular delight on France and
Austria, the two great Catholic powers OF Eu-
rope. The Emperor of Austria is considered
as one of the sncerest Catholic princes; only
his youth, and the large Protestant population
of his empire, hinder, for the present the dis
play of his whole zeal for the catholic cause
High praise is bestowed also on the Emperor
of France for his services to the cause of reli-
gion; yet, in private circles, it is deemed e1-
ceedingly strange that Louis Napoleon refuses
to abrogate the obnoxious Ecclesiastical Law
of France, and to conclude new concordat,
but persists, the contrary. in comforting
what he confers as personal favor, and lcav-
| ing the path open to his successor. TheFrench
church is considered the most active and use
ful section of Catholicism.
The princes of Italy are doing the best to
please the Pope. with the exception of the
King of Sardinia, who has been excommuni-
Gated for carrying through reform to which
the Pope objected. The church is weak; ey
erybody sees it. She is just as much afraid as
| the princes of dispensing with the support of
French, Austrian, and Swiss bayonets. In
Spain and Portugal, ministry and legislature
have been Tor some years on very i'll terms
with the Pope, although they console him from
time to time by authorizing new prosecutions
against Protestants. The church is in the
deepest lethargy there, but hope to regain
some influence on the government, by stirring
up the lower classes of the people, and enlist
| ing in her cause the old landed aristocracy.-
The Queen of Spain is known to sanction very
reluctantly any measure againstV Vatican since,
in her obedience to the Pope, she is as unwav
ering as she is in her highly offensive mode of
lfe the young King of Portugal shows as yet
no sympathy with the endeavors of the ultra
montane party. In Switzerland, only five a.
mOng twenty-twa cantons are controlled by the
catholic party; the position of the church in
general is most unfavorable, and her only trust
| is the patronage of Franco and Austria. Bel
| gum is the only constitutional state whose
ministers are members and the organ of the ul
+
pold will, ere long, be succeeded by catholic
son, who, it is expected, will equal in zeal the
Emperor of Austria. This section of the
church is largely contributing to the propaga-
tion of Catholicism abroad. In Holland,
whose government is at present conducted by
zaalous Protestants, Popery has enough to do
in frustrating the efforts which numerous and
active Protestant societies are making for the
conversion OF Roman Catholics. Prussia is
| considered as almost model Protestant state,
| because it has made this year new concessions
to her catholic bishops. The catholic popula-
| tion of Prussia is, owing to the excellent sys-
TEN of public instruction, the best educated
people of the Roman church. Papal affairs in
! general in very prosperous condition.
In Bavaria, King Lewis, the most utramon-
tame, and, at the sama time, the most profit
gate, among the European princes, has been
succeeded by Maxmillian II, who appoints
more Protestant than Catholic professors to
| the two Catholic universities of the land. He
is thought to be secretly decided enemy to
| Popery. The law continues to be one of the
strongholds of Romanism in Germany. The
Protestant governments of Baden and Wur-
tenberg, urged by Austria, and, we have rea-
| son to believe, also by Protestant Prussia, are
on the point of conceding to the Church al
most everything she demands. The conclu-
! sion of their new concordat is expected before
the close of the year. Here, as well as in 9TH
er parts of Germany, Popery is visibly progress
sing. No government can be more detested
in Rome, than that of England, the powerful
patron of Protestant interests all over the
world. Rome feels deeply that it is England
which most successfully opposes her aggran-
dizement in all the five large divisions of the
world. The Roman Church of England has to
exhaust her entire strength in defensive war !;
she loses thousands of her people by the exer-
tions of Low Church and Dissenting societies,
while a number of Puseyites who come over
| to her, counts, at most, by dozens Ireland
is still the fertile nursery of Romish priests
for the colonial territory of England and the
United States of America; but feeling OF
deep resentment goes through the land, on ac-
| count OF the many insults which her national
itv has lately received from Rome.
Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, count to-
| Tn,