Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-03-02
From the Galaxy for March,
TEN YEARS IN ROME.
THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS.

In the year 1864, the Holy Faith
er instituted an inquiry into the
condition of the clergy, secular
and regular, in the city of Rome
ana the Outlaying dioceses. This
inquiry was intended to vindicate
them from sweeping charges of
concubinage. Certain priests in
Turin, in the disorganization of
affairs consequent on the occa-
sion of Umbria and the Marches
to Italy, broke through their obli-
CATION of celibacy, and openly
married. Now, although the peo-
pie of Northern Italy even are
not quite ripe for such a reform,
yet, viewing the antecedent i'm
morality of large numbers of the
clergy, they considered marriage
as the less of two evils. The ex-
ample of theserecsuants was fol-
lowed in Naples. A priest bro't
an action against his bishop for
suspending him because of mar
riage. Popular feeling was with
the priest, ,and the court pronounc-
ed that a priest can lawfully mar
~. like any other citizen. On the
strength of this decision a Capu-
chin friar, and soon after a Domi-
nican, left their respective orders
and married. In self-defence, the
clergy favorable to this reform
ventilated a good deal of informa-
ton previously carefully conceal
ed. But their facts were not cred
tied until the full report of the
commission instituted by the
Pope had been received.
Up to this time the Pontiff had
lived in ignorance of any such
state of affairs. He had heard
but had treated them con-
temptously as falsehoods. Here
let me remark that the purity OF
his character, and his large heart
ed faith in the best qualities of
humanity, render any attempt to
destroy them particularly hateful;
and so, by a common consent, no
one has ever attempted to en-
Tighten the Pope. Yet such minds
as his, when they get an inkling
of facts, are apt 10 exaggerate
them in proportion to the previ-
Gus misconceptions of contrary
The persistant and
exultant tone of the Turinese and
Neapolitan clergy for the first
time convinced the Pope that |
they had some good grounds for |
their assertions. Not that mere |
assertions could have produced |
this but he could get no authori- |
i've denial of them. Persons OF |
whom he inquired merely smiled, |
shrugged their shoulders, and re-
Piled, "Yes, they sag so, but what |
would you have 2" A very un-
satisfactory equivocatiOn, with |
several possible meanings.
The commission is most import
mt. For although no true critic
would estimate the moral value /
If religion by the lives of its pro-
yet this is so constantly |
lone in very illogical way by
,Ontroversialists on the Roman
ide against the Protestant, that
he statements of a commission
lot in any way likely to be preju-
Iced except in favor of the ac-
used, are of the utmost value as
hOwing the falacy Of such ar
The parishes and dioceses ofthe
roman States are very poorly en-
lowed. In many cases they are
lot endowed at all. They depend
n these instances on eontribu-
ions. Having no one but him
elf" say the people, "a priest
leeds little" Consequently, he
) very poorly provided for. The
fferings of the whole parish
Tould not equal a thousand dol
lrs per ann1m on an average ,
'ut he does not get the offerings
f the 1ohOLe parish. 1t may or
inarily contain two thousand
ersOns. There are sure to be ,
hree, frequently five churches,
esides particular chapels and
Then the monks come !
nd found monastery. OF course
ley bring funds with them and
ave a regular endowment out of !
ne chest of their order; but they '
lso have a church, and frequent J
: they have more services than
he other churches, and give long / |
r attendance at confession
heir sermons, toe, ARE numerous, {
nd an Italian is fond of a good t
ermon. On all these occasions I
Ontributions are solicited from ]
le faithful. 1t may be ostensi- a
ly for the altar ofthe Madonna or 4
ny of the saints, but really it is e
II the need of the order. When O
branch is planted in any locah- t
: and placed under a superior, s