The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-14

district als,s vn Of AZ empire even in those dis
nrevs,s "ere the Catholic religion exclusively
Opinions. DAT law establishes free liberty lot al
mater - liberty OF the press, Of all faith, and no
memH mat confession or doctrine. II grants to the
mo- %s or every confession the right OF establish
= cry confession are allowed TO be admitted on the
Anne footing, with the sanction OF the State A.
though we felt great grief on being informed Of the
fact and wished to raise our voice against 1t, we
nevertheless gave proof OF forbearance, and we
deemed advisable then to keep SILENT chiefly sup
ported by the hope that the Austrian governments
lending docile ear to the just complaints OF our
venerable brethren the holy prelates OF Austrla),
would return 70 more wholesome ideas ana adopt
frustrated. In fact, the same government on the
26lh OF May OF this present year issued another law
watch involves all the subjects. even the Catholic
ones, OF the empire, deciding that sons born of o
mixed marriage must follow the religion OF the ia
tner and Inc daughter That q the mother ana taae
stray path OF their parents from the true faith.
Moreover, the same law Mppresses entirely the
validity OF The promises which the Catholic Church,
with reason and with the greatest justice, exacts
and prescribes absolutely before the celebration Of
mixed n ai arrages. ~ makes apostacy ltseI CYL
Christian religion generally; 10 suppresses all au
thorty OF the Church over cemeteries, and Catholics
are bound to allow the bodies OF heretcs to be buried
in their churchyards II they have not any of their
own. Moreover, the same government, on the said
25th day OF May OF this present year. did not hest
tate to promugate law marriages which entirely
cancels all the enactments agreed to in the cOnven
tion already alluded to. This law restores the
laws OF the Church; 1t admits and even confirms that
form OF marriage, absolutely condemnabe, called
Whatever refuses the Celebration Of the nsrrage on
grounds which are not admitted as valid or legal by
the civil authorities.
BY this law this same government has suppressed
all the authority and jurisdiction OF the Church on
matters relative to marriage AZ also all competent
ecclesiastical tribunals on the subject 1t has also
promulgated law on education which suppresses
all the influence OF the Church over education, de-
creeng that the whole superior supervision OF educa
schools appertains to the State, which finally DEGREES
that religious teaching In the public schools must be
placed IN the hands Of members Of each separate
vate special schools for the youth Of its faith; that
these schools shall also be subject to the supreme
shall be submitted to the approval the civil
thOrtes with the exception, however VI such books
must be submitted to the approval OF the competent
authorities Of each confession.
You see, consequently, venerable brethren, how
those abOminable laws sanctioned by the Austrian
government; laws which are In nagrant contradic-
with the doctrines OF the Catholic religion, with ts
tion with our power and that Of the Apostolic See,
as also with our cOncordat already quoted and with
natural right ITSELF In virtue then, Of the care Of all
churches entrusted to US by the Lord Jesus Christ,
we raise voice in your most iustrOus assembly;
we reprove and we condemn by our apostolic autho-
rity The laws which we have enumerated and every
thing, general or special, IN those same laws or In
matters which refer to ecclesiastical right which has
Dccu ucCIccu dtlcmpttu uuJubtlys III any mduueT
whatsoever, by the Austrian government or its
sub0rdinates, whomsoever they may be. In virtue
OF this same authority, which appertains to u.s. we
declare those decress null and powerless in them
selves and In their effect both as regards the present
and the future.
As regards the authors OF those laws, especially
those who congratulate themselves on being CathO-
lies, and have not feared to propose, establish, ap
prove and carry out the above laws and acts, we
conjure and entreat them not to forget the
and spiritual punshments which the ecclesiastical
institutions and the DEGREES of the Ecumenical coun-
ellis nfict as having been deserved pso lctO by the
vIOlators OF the rights OF the Church. Meantime we
rejoice greatly in the Lord, and give our well de-
served praise to our venerable brothers the archbsh
ops and bishops OF the Austrian empire who, with
truly episcopal energy, have not ceased TO their
locks OF their duties boldly &c defend and protect
by speech well as writing the OF the Church
and the said concordat concluded with Us. We also
desire from our hearts that venerable brothers, the
aIchblshops and bishops Of Hungary following the
example of their colleagues, VIII show themselves
disposed to display the same zeal and the same ardor
TO protect the rights Of the Church and defend the
said concordat against the attacks which directed
against It..
Nevertheless, under the calamites which In these
sad times afct the Church everywhere, we do not
cease, venerable brothers. with the deepest humility
OF heart to pray to God that He may upset all the
criminal designs of His enemies and those OF His
holy Church, suppress their mpious efforts ana in
His mercy lead them back into the paths OF Justice
and salvation.