The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-02
THE MoRTARA ABDUCTION CASE.

7 The Roman CathoucS OOaSt Inot5 W.
estantism is without stability, their u rcn
never changes. 1t we're better Cor thems, ives
and the world. if it did admit of change its
absurd claim to infallibiity did not iinvolS. its
adhesion TO principles and usages which rthe
ace cannot tolerate. The late abduction Q the
Jewish boy Mortara, from his parents insbo-
logna, and his appropriation by the Church ss a
Catholic, in defiance of the will of his pareats,
on the ground that he had received Chrr7tan
baptism, which had been administered. ella Sas-
timely without the knowledge of his parenF is
naturally exciting the indignation of people
everywhere, who recognise the sacredness OF ihe
family relation. The Pope has been besonght
By the parents to order the surrender or she
child, but he is deaf to all entreaties. de as
sumes to lord it over Gods Family lnstltutt,n.
For church 10 kidnap children, coerce them
into catechumens, and trample upon the claims
of father and mother is an outrage that wouid
have been in keeping with the spirit OF the no
man Catholic world in the sixteenth century.
That it should venture upon such an atrocity IN
this century shows that it is indeed unchanged.
Ecclesiastical organizations will, OF course, be
heve and worship as they please-that IL Il ei-
own business-but when they presume to t. tie
with or violate the rights ofhumanity, they shoald
be met with the indignant protest and prompt
resistance of mankind. 1t is of infinitely more
importance TO uphold the sacredness OF the
Family Institution than the power OF the .Pspe,.
or the claim of any church organization whstso-
ever.
The ST. Petersburgh Meas, Russian, alluding
to the abduction of the Jewish boy Mortsca,
saws: o..
"Where is our philosophy, where our much
vaunted progress, if laws still exist, under which
such outrages can take place? For centuries,
men have been prating about perfecting the
social system; vet in the he..rt of Europe, IA
Rome itself, the rights of family, the rights q
parents-the very cornerstone of the soclsi
iabric-not only find no protection, but are net
even recognised" ).
All the St. Petersburg journals agree in dig,
approving the conduct of the Propaganda,
though some are less severe in their structures
than the one above quoted. Letters from Rone
state too, that all the great Catholic Powers had
addressed remOnstrances to the Pope, and re
quested the release of the Jewish boy Mortara .
but the Pope had replied that the boys returI-
to his parents was impossible.
We observe that a memorial, numerously
signed at Philadelphia, has been forwarded tc
the President, asking his interposition in the.
matter. It's spirit may be inferred from the fol.
lowing extract
" In Mortara the abstract rights of man hs Y.
been violated; and the mental distress of his
parents, their anguish, and their tears appeal TO
all liberal and free people to redress the insult
which has been offered to humanity in the per
son of the little boy for whom we now ask ycHt
kind Offices.
I'VE are well aware that the United Ststes
never do nor should assume the right to inrer,
fere In the internal relations of other lands We
also know that it may be said that persoh
| living in the Roman States must submit TO then
laws however arbitrary and cruel they NAV be.
Still we trust and firmly believe that the Roman
Government would listen respectfully TO aAy
suggestion coming from the President of the
United States, especially if you would represent
to his Holiness the Pope that the universal SEN
tment, not alone of lsraelites, butof Protestsntl
also. of the United States, condemns an &C
which is so unreasonable, unjust, and cruel
and that to persist in it might, more than any
thing else, retard the progress of Catholicity IL.
the Union, where every bosom swells at the
thought of liberty, and where the tyranny OF q
church, whatever may be lis name, IS no less
II ~v7e Wound rnereioEe respectfully request OF
you TO instruct the Minister of the United States
at the Court of Rome to ask. as an act of grace
towards the Government, and people of all per,
suaslons OF this country, to restore the bow Ed
gar Mortara TO has parents, to be educated as
they may deem proper, without coercing their
viii. or Offering any undue inducement 10 change
their original intention of rearing him as an
lsraehte. Secondly, TO obtain in the same
manner revocation OF the canon of the Roman
I Catholic Church, which empowers its adherents
to administer baptism under certain circum-
stances, or at least to declare such an involun-
tary conversion null and void, when the parents
of children or adults themselves thereafter re-
fuse to recognise the baptism as valid when it
was administered at time they were uncon-
scious under the full persuasion that the head
of the Catholic Church cannot desire, in this
age OF progress, to force persons 10 become con-
verts TO this belief. 10y which it can neither gain
strength, nor benefit those whom it thus holds
within its grasp"
How far our Government il inclined 10 in
terfere with this question NAV be inferred by
tAo AuDJOiicu lSlAcE Ol the secretary OF state,
written in reply to letter from Mr.. ABRAHAN
HART, the President of Hebrew Congregation
in the city of Philadelphia:
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
Washington, Nor. 81, 1858.
SIR: have received aud submitted to the
President your letter Of the 18th instant. re-
speeding the alleged forcible abduction from has
parents of Jewish child, by the public author
tiles at Bologna, in the Papal Donninions, and
asking some expressions Of condemnation on
the part Of this Government
This occurrence took place within the terri
tories Of an independently Power, and without
affecting the rights of any American citizen.
1t Is the settled policy bf the United States TO
abstain from all interference in the internal
concerns OF any other country. Certainly there
Is nothing in the circumstances of this casn a.
they are reported, which would imnosa tb;s -
serve upon the Government But II IA deemed
proper 10 adhere to the established minerals
which has heretofore regulated It's condnct IN
its intercourse with other nations