Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-09-02

\ leading Catholic Journal tie New York
Tailet, takes it for granted that Roman Cath
/ olics all over the world must give their sym
pathies in the present European war to
France. Yet religion had certainly nothing
to do with the origin of the war, and Louis
Napoleon has never succeeded in Obtaining
the confidence Of all the French bishops or
Of the leading Catholics. The Prussian
Catholics side strongly with their own ma
ton. The Archbishop OF Cologne has issued
d pastoral letter TO the clergy Of h- diocese.
dwelling strongly upon the business Of the
/ German cause, and no German bishop has 10
any way indicated sympathy with France.
The leading Catholic paper Of Prussia, the
Fo1.sj'affer Of Cologne, yies in the ener-
getic defence of the German cause with the
other Prusslan lapers In Bavaria, the
Oldest political OF gan of the Cathc lies, the
Pos-atung Of Augsburg, fully supports the
war, and only one Catholic organ of inhu-
ence, the Volis5otc Of Munich has persisted
in the opposition to the German war. The
enthusiasm Of the people in the Catholic
districts is in no way inferior to that of the
Protestant distri, ts. The Catholic Deputies
of the North German Parliament are entire
ly unanimous il supporting the cause Of
their country.
The Trihmc z YES, as bearing On this mat
ter, some in:ercs ing statistics of the com
paratiye numbers of the different sects in the
two countries. In France, though great
majority Of the people belong to the Church
Of Rome, many Of the leading statesmen and
prominent personages Of the Empire are OF
the Protestant faith The State, in its en-
dowments. knows no difference betw cen the
two creeds. In Prussia, though the Royal
family Of Prussia belong to the Reformed
or Calyinistic church, all Christian demon
nations enjoy the same privileges. The Pro-
testants are divided INTO two branches,
Lutherans and Calvinists. and comprise, ac-
c1rding to the census OF 1867, more than IS
per cent. Of the entire population, while tt e
Catholics amount to nearly 33 per cent, tn
rest being lsraelites and other sects.
However, in some portions OF the Prussian
dominions, the Catholics actually predomin-
ate. According to the enumerations Of 1866
and 1867, the inhabitants Of North and
South Germany were divided as follows
Countries, Protestants. Catholics
North heTmant y ,3'1.st -l3l- 1876
South Germany 33609g3 5IZ7,30i
Total 2l675I IS 77255I4o
In other words, in the ,orth German Con
federation the Protestan is were more than
Il per cent, Catholics - per cent. In the
South German states bavaria, Wurtem-
burg, Baden and E,s. e) the Catholics are |
60 per cent, and Prctestants 80 per cent.
The only state in which the Protestants |
predominates is Iiesse Bavaria is nearly |
threc-fourths Catholic, but that detached |
portion Of the Kingdom which lies between |
France and the Rhine, known as the Palat- |
mate, is not quite half Catholic, its popn-
lation comprising 273, $50 Catholics, 33G, ll9
Protestants, 1902 lsraelites and 1923 Of |
other sects. If we take the total of North |
and South Germany, which in this war at
any rate are one, VIC find th It about two
thirds of the people are Protes tants and one
third Catholics
In France, BIZ the census of 1856 5, there |
were sc, 420, 664 Catholics and l, sol $50 |
Protestants.
The state recognizes all religions, but it |
only endows the Roman Catholics, tn e Pro- !
testants and the Jews. The allowance m ade
to the Roman Catholic clergy in the last
budget amounted to 1850 1886 francs. and |