Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-12-10
The Mortara Affair.

This question is aoB occupying more si:en-
iioa IN Europe aud America than any other
Il is one Of the utmost Importance, aud shows
what length the church Of Rome will 60 to
make, and force persons to become proseiytes.
Pope Plus Ninth, who was, ten years ago. look
cd upon as sort Of apostle of liberty in Eu-
rope, and the hepe of fhe world, has answered
tho deuauds Of the yarioas European govern
nents the subject of the restitution to bis
parents of Edgar Mortara, now in the hands Of
the inquisition authorities He tells them that
she boys restoration 10 his parents il impossi-
bic. A brief statement Of This very Femarka-
bic ease will serve 10 put this decision Of the
head of the Roman Church in stronger light.
Edgar Mertara Levi is about seven years old.
he is the sou Of Momola Mortara Levi, jew
lsh resident Of Bologna. 10 1852, shen he
was about one YEAR old, he vas i'll, and Ro,
man Catholic nurse, about fourteen years old,
thinking he might die, administered the rite of
bsrsisu,, lay baptism, under such circumst ances
icing tolerated and recognized as all sufficient
~ tn1 4eotutH SCc3cstsstlcd. aninoiHle5. ne
child recovered, but the girl Kept her secret
Yet she was sensible OF the wrong she had done
D deceisiug her master and mistress, aud com
municaied her uneasinnss to another Roman
Catholic woman, expressing great regret at the
act she had done, and declaring that she would
net have done it had she been elder. The wo-
u1Dn 1foH hprt N oil 4ba 10
but this she refused, ard the other one then
sent and communicated the whole affair TO
priest. The girl was immediately summoned
before the lnquisition, and made 10 swear TO
say nothing about tbs matter. In the middle
RI the night, officers of the Church we're sent
60 tie house of Signor Moutara, and to the
aR.azenent and grief of the family, the child
Edgar was violently carried off, weeping III ter
TOR at what was done. He was taken to Rome
and pat in charge of the Catechumens, who
stiil retain him. Remarkable stories are told
Of his being a sincere and even an inspired con-
vert to Christianity, talking words Of wisdom
aud truth very astonishing in child Of seven
years. /, is even said that he refuses 10 20
back 20 his psreotS. But oil these reports
want ycrifcatioH. Indeed, when the boy's
father wss admitted to sec hin, he is said TO
hare wept bitterly and 10 have begged 10 be al
we'd 10 GO home. Even it it be true lha, the
child talks sound Christian doctrine, nnd even
ii he refuses TO 60 bsck 10 bis parents, i: may
easily be seen how one OF such tender years,
secluded from sll other influences for many
weeks, eoa,d be trained, either by tenderness
or by fear, % deny, nat c5ly bis religion, but
his parents also.
Bot Leaving ocs 0! 'ae ques;iea ihe wisdom
"r ibe ipclinaiion of The cbild, and putting aside
also The question of religion, looking simp;, at
ths act Of deprTing parents of child, it Is
the most mcnsirous thing done, under sanction
at civilized government, siuce the wcrs. days
of the Spanish Ipquisi,iop. The Pspal Gos-
eminent, in sanctioning the act, fairly presents
10 IL to the world 81 kidnapping institution -
The abdseIiop OF lhe ,Fild is not sinply an
un-Chrislian act: il is an inhunan set, the par
allel u which is only 10 bs found among eer-
tain Wild Indian tribes Of our Western wilder
ses', who are 10 sbs habit Of stoaling ehild:en
from white settlers on the frontier, ynd forcibly
making them iDembers of their own COMMUNE
y, 80 loag ss The ncI was only that Of snbal-
terms In the Rolnan Church, and there was
chance Of its disavowa! BY she higher powers
und the restoration of the child to its parents,
~as net qnitc SO bad as j. SOW is. The de-
termination OF ibe Pope to sustain the lnqui-
ION, snd rot 70 permit tho pareprs to bave
their child, makes it the bolaest wrong perpo-
ssased y any eofpoiism, in 'his century, 81
is's'. The Leading European governments,
hesn4H cs'ho!i0 as sell as Protestant, taye -.