The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-13
ROME.
The Papal AllOcution-Pius TX and
Aungria.

The following is translation OF the Papal
Aliocution delivered in the secret consistory.
held on the 22d June LAST
Venerable Brethren-We should never have
imagined that. after the convention agreed to
nearly thirteen years ago between us and the
Emperor and Apostolic King of Austria, to the
great JOY of all well. minded men, we should be
mislortunes which, by the Vaccinations of evil
disposed mer, now aff1ict and annoy In de-
Empire of Austria. In fact. the enemies OF our
divine religion have been unceasing in their ef-
forts TO destroy the said convention, and to do
the greatest harm to the Church, TO us, and to
this Apostolic See. On the 2lst OF December
last the Austrian Government passed an odious
law, TO be carried out aud strictly observed
in every district of the empire. even in
those districts where the Catholic religion
exclusively prevails. That law establishes free
liberty for ali opinions-ii liberty of the press. of
every faith, and no matter what confession or
doctrine; IL grants 10 the members of every
confession the right OF establishing public
schools and colleges, and members of every con-
iesslon are allowed TO be admitted on the same
we felt great griet on being Informed of the fact,
and wished TO raise our voice against 1t. we
deemed IL advisable then to keep silent, chiefly
supported by the hope that the Austrian Gov
plants OF our venerable brethren (the molly pre-
laIes OF Auslria) would return 70 more wholesome
ideas and adopt sounder determination.
the same Government. on the 25th of May OF
this pres ent year, issued another law. which
ones, of the empire, deciding that sons born of
q mixed marriage. must follow the religion of
The father, and the daughters that OF the
mother. Moreover, the same law suppresses
entirely the validity of the promises which the
Catholic Church, with reason and with the
greatest justice. enacts and presoribes Abso
lutely before the celebration of mixed mar
riages IL makes apostasy itself a question OF
and the Christian religion. generally; 1t
suppresses all authority of the Church
over cemeteries. and Catholics are
beund to allow the bodies or
or heretics to be buried in their churchyard, If
they have not any of their own. Moreover the
same Government, on the said 25th day OF May
OF this pI esent year, did not hesitate to promul
gate law on marriages which entirely cancels
all the enactments agreed TO In the convention
already alluded to-
You see, consequently, venerable brethren
how necessary IL Is strongly to reprove and con-
denim those abOminable laws sanctioned by the
Austrian Government-laws which are in fla
grant contradiction with the doctrines of the
Catholic religion, with its venerable right, its
auth ority and its divine institution, with our
power and that of the Apostolic See. as also
with our Concordat, already quoted, and
with natural rights itselE In virtue,
then, of the care OF all churches entrusted
TO us by the Lord Jesus Christ, we raise
our voices in your most illustrious assembly;
we Teprove and we condemn, by our Apostolic
authority, the laws W Mich we have enumerated
and everything, general or special, In those
same laws or In matters which refer to eccle-
siastical right which has been decreed or at
tempted uDjustly, In any manner whatsoever,
by the Austrian Government or Its subordt.
mates, Whomsoever they may be. In virtue OF
the same authority which appertains TO us, we
declare those DEGREES null and powerless in