The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-07-09
THE aoRNNG STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER SUNDAY
The Hsrstioal Movement in Germany.

Tho Hsrsueal Movement in Germany.
Bavaria continues to be the centre Of the
anti Catholic movement. At the same time
symptoms are not wanting which show that
the influence of the heretical party is I'M
ceasingly exerted to disseminate their doc
trines throughout the Continent. A pro-
lessor OF medical science at the University
of Giessen, together with three or four the
illogical authorities of a similar stamp, have
just published an address of like character
with the manifesto of the Munich Dollln-
gerites. 1t may be safely said that this
demonstration is not very imposing. The
written previous to the accommodation,
has been translated into Russian by an Ar
chimandrite of the Imperial Court. 1t is
truly moving to observe the zeal with
which the venerable translator, himself the
merest spiritual vassal of the Gar, laments
the injury to the Chnrch's freedom wrought
by the dogma of Infallibility. He never
had, lie intimates, a particularly good Opin-
ion of the Jesuits, but to have contrived
the Vatican Council fills up the measure of
their iniquities. From unhappy Italy comes
puerile address from some Florentine
students, of which the most is made by
papers of the Sect. Even in Catholic Pres
burg, the ancient coronation city OF the
Hungarian Kings, heresy has sought the
means of display in one of those public
| "cctluRb WHICH are 80 uodT 10 lncu VI thO
Friedrich and Michelis type. 1t was not
to be, however. Reused by the implied
insult to their faith, the hardy popula-
ton of Presburg took measures to prevent
their city from being misquoted as an ally
of the enemies of Catholicity, and the
would-be demonstration of the handful OF
DOllingerites did not venture to make
head against the tumult of popular indig-
nation.
In Bavaria, however, a conjunction of
circumstances contributes to the support of
every anti-Catholic movement. Not only
do we find a middle and professional class
extensively leavened with corruption of
every kind, and q University society in
which free-tLinking has become tradi-
ton, but it is not to be forgotten that
almost third of the population are Prot
estants, too many of them of that Cont
mental type of Professionalism which never
omits any opportunity of insult and per-
! secutiOn. 1t may we'll be imagined that
very slight division in the Catholic ranks
is sufficient to give over the practical com
| over scrupul0us hands. In some provinces
of Bavaria it does not require even o di-
vision in the Catholic ranks to lead to this
result. In the Rheinpfalz, for instance,
the Professionals stand to the Catholics as
336, GOO OOO to ~ "a goo; in upper Franconia as
AL 900 to l27 900. It is well to bear these
figures in mind when it is wondered how
4 Catholic State like Bavaria can permit
outrages against Catholicity. The fact is,
that to a very large extent Bavaria is not
Catholic, and an exceedingly strong Prot
estant minority is always ready, aud in
many respects has the power to make its
opposition felt The hostility of large
classes in Bavaria is not, it cannot be too
strongly insisted, an index to diseased
state of Catholic opinion; the vast bulk
of the BAvarian Catholics are unexception-
able. On the contrary, it is necessary
result of Protestant intolerance, which
hardly finds a parallel in the United
Kingdom, except among the bitter sectaries
of the North of Ireland or Germany.
These considerations supply key to
the strength of the anti-Catholic move
ment in Bavaria. 1t is no revolt of hither-
to faithful congregations which embarras-
SEES the action of the Church. 1t is not the
few hundreds of Dollingerite Professors and
shopkeepers. 1t is that, behind the Dollin.
gerite group, stand in close array all the
fractions and /segments of the great anti
Catholic conspiracy, of every shade of be-
lief or unbelief, all protesting, like the jews
of the Vienna Municipal Council, the warm
est interest in the welfare of the Church
and protesting it with exactly the same
; amount of sincerity, and with exactly tie
same designs.