The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-24
COnflscatiOn of the Converts at Rome

A Rome correspondent, writing un-
der date of October s, gives the fol-
lowing account of the expulsion of the
nuns from their converts in the Eternal
City:
There is general law of the king
dom suppressing all religious orders.
This law, so far, has remained a dead
letter in Rome, where converts, religi-
Gus institutions or orders pullulate only
through the Difference which Minister
LAMA wishes to show for the Holy
Father and the Holy See. There have
been exceptions to this general indul-
gence. The authorities appropriated
the Quirinal Palace and all the other
buildings which were absolutely needed
to run the new machine here, and to
the great disgust of the monks and
nuns, although they were Unidentified
by certain moneys to be drawn and
paid out Of the national treasury. The
fraternities looked upon Italy as bad
payer and protested; but nevertheless
the strong ann of power turned them
out of their property and they were
forced to make the best of their sur
roundings. Day before yesterday ex-
preparation fell upon the two converts
already mentioned; their buildings
were wanted for military hospital pur-
poses, and so the public force went to
take possession of them. AS early as
halfpast N the morning the slumbers
of the nuns were disturbed at the Con-
vent of Santa Teresa by loud knocks at
its door, and upon its opening by the
pastor Of the establishment the Govern
Cc,, ;c1 h.,
posse of royal carabineers and a notary,
were ushered. In all these operations
the Government sends notary, on the
idea that the thing must be done in ac-
cordance with all the forms Of law, al
though it strongly smacks Of piece of
irony to the outside parties, who declare
that confscation is no law, but mere
might. The invaders of other peoples
houses being introduced in the parlor,
priest asks their business, and informs
them that he has been charged with
the direction and keeping of the con-
vent by no less Il parsonage than His
Holiness himself by positive and direct
orders from the Vatican. These orders
are for the occupants to be put out Of
doors only by force, and not to consent
10 any mere calm walking away. In
this we have an inkling of that strong,
uncompromsing will which animates
still the spiritual sway over the faith
full. These nuns, completely yelled, are
visible. The first solemnly and express
sively enjoins upon them to retire into
their private room, where the balance
of the sisters are, and this they imme-
diately proceeded to do, after piously
kissing the hand of the Pope's agent.
They are to 60 and to wait to be showed
out of the houre nor do they have to
wait long, for the mere inspection of
the apartments by the royal carabineers
effectually drives the pious ladies into
Punishment into the outer world of the
street, the priests following at their
heels. The notary, by order, makes a
process verbal of the operation, and 10!
Victor Emanuel has another convent
without any ruins. No one can tell
where they went or who took them in.
weary and abandoned but it is gener-
ally believed they scattered and took
refuge in other converts, which have
not been appropriated" A similar
operation was gone through with at the
monastery of st. Antonio Abate.