The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-21
The Pope snd Tie Italian Govern.


The Pope and the italian Govern.
90, ment,ss,. +, ,Iyts .tJsgf.
The late foreign journals contain the fun
text of the recent allocution of the, Pope.
1t condemns the whole policy Of the Ita-
Ian Government In terms which cannot be
misunderstood. 1t complains in particular
Of the Punishment of bishops from their.
dioceses, of the suppression Of the reli-
gious orders, and Of the introduction Of
civil marriage. 1t studiously avoids the
names of skiing Of Italy" or "Govern-
ment of Italy," and uses instead the name
of "Sub-Alpine Government" This al
locution of the Pope, which is addressed
to the clergy Of the Catholic Church, thus
sets. forth the main alleged grievances
against the Italian Government:
"You must comprehend with what grief
We are seized, now that we see that Go.
| vernment, with passion that Is increasing
every day constantly attacking the Catho-
| lie Church, its wholesome laws, and allits
sacred ministers; when we see, alas, veneer
able bishops, and the most virtuous clergy,
both secular and regular, and other, most
excellent Catholic citizens, sent into exile
| by that Government, without the least re-
gard for religion, justice, or humanity,
or thrown into prison, or condemned to
| forced residence, molested in the most un-
worthy manner: dioccses deprived of
their pastors, to the great detriment of
souls; virgins devoted to God taken away
from their converts and reduced to beg
gary Gods temples violated; diocesan
| schools closed against the members Of the
clergy the education Of Catholic youths
taken out of the pale Of Christian discipline
and confded to the professors Of errors
and iniquities, and the patrimony Of the
Church usurped and sold. That same Co
vernment, in contempt Of ecclesiastical
censures, and without paying the least re-
gard to our most just complaints, and those
of our venerable brethren the BISHOPS of
Italy, has sanctioned similar laws, totally
contrary to the Catholic Church, to its doc
trines and its rights, and condemned by US
and it has not hesitated to promulgate a
law respecting civil marriage, as it is
called-a law quite contrary not only to
Catholic doctrine, but likewise to the we'll
being of civil society. .-E@a
"Such a law tramples under foot the
| dignity and sacredncss of marriage. 1t de-
stroys it san institution, and encourages
concubinagc that is perfectly Scandalous.
In fact, marriage cannot take place
among the faithful without there being at
the same time sacrament. 1t belongs,
therefore, exclusively to the Church to de-
eide on everything concerning the sacra-
ment of marriage. Moreover, that Govern
mcnt-iniuring in an evident manner the
condition of those who make public profess
sion Of religious vows which have always
had, and always will have, force in Gods
church, and not recognizing the very great
advantage of the regular orders which,
founded by men Of holiness, and approved
by the Holy Apostolic See, have in an
especial manner deserved the thanks of
the Christian republic, civil and literary,
by so many glorious labors and SO many
useful works-has not feared to sanction a
law suppressing throughout its entire terri
tory all religious corporations Of both sexes;
it has appropriated all their property, and
a great deal of other property belonging to
the Church, and has ordered it to be divi-
ded.
"Before entering into possession Of the
Venetian province, it did not hesitate to
extend thereto the same laws, and ii en-
Joined, contrary to all law and justice, the
total abrogation and humiliation ofthe con-
vention which was come to between us and
our very dear son in Jesus Christ, Francis
Joseph, Emperor of Austria. Therefore,
faithful to the very seriousduty Of ourapos-
tolic ministry, we raise anew in your most
august assembly our voice on behalf of rcli-
gioD, of the Church, of its holy laws, the
rights belonging to the authority of this
chair of St. Peter; and with all our strength
we deplore and condemn all and each of
the things which, contrary to the Church,
its laws, and its rights, have been decreed,
done, and attempted by the Sub-Alpine
Government, and by all other subordinate
authorities; and by our apostolic authority
we abrogate and proclaim null and void,
and without force or effect, all the afore-
said DEGREES and everything that appertains
to them"
The alIocution goes on to defend the
rights of the Church to show that his llo-
illness has always heretofore eXertcd his
best energies in behalf of the welfare Of
the people of Italy, and, finally, to declare
that the Pope cannot renounce the civil
powers conferred on him for the good Of
the Church, but, on the contrary, must and
is bound to defend them. The Church, it
says, will never be overpowered, but one
particular nation may lose the true faith.
In conclusion, it adjures the sovereigns to
prevent with all their strength the torch
of faith from being extinguished among
! them"
The London Times says the Pope's allo-
cution on the subject Of Rome and Italy
| is a very remarkable manifesto, and pro-
duced considerable sensation, particularly
in France. The Paris journals comment at
length on the document; the Debdts OBJ
serving: "The Holy Father at least can
not be reproached on account of want Of
clearness. He withdraws his benediction-
which had been MISUNDERSTANDING he
replaces it with declaration of war;
A second allocution of Plus the Ninth
on the subject Of the condition of the
Catholic Church in Russia is regarded as
an ecclesiastical attempt to renew the Po-
lish question, undertaken at the instance of
France and Austria.
Release Of Fenian Prisoners.
TORONTO, November 12.-On Saturday
| n;cbt thirty nine Fenian prisoners were re-