The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-07-21
10, 81. 1xTTx3 On HE HoL,AEss'f tvs H
TO II. 4. cxRDrNAL ANroNELII, 70
SECRETARY OF STATE. ...

81 .-' n
To the Most Rev Cardinal James AnsO.ei, our secre
Constrained, in Our present ssd circuulstan-
ces, to witness daily tho spectacle of fresh and
violent attempts against The Church, We feel
pressing to You, my Lord Cardinal, the deep
grief which We have felt at learning the de-
ciaratidn made Lon solemn occasion by the
Government as to hi. fixed intention Of short
ly bringing into Parliament q law for the sup
preston OF the Religious Orders existing IN
Our City of Rome, the seat Of the Vicar Of
lilo world. That declaration reveals still more
clearly the object aimed at in the spoliation OF
this Apostolic See of its Temporal Power, and
bus .on the whole Catholic world Who, in
fact, cnn deny that to suppress the Religious
Orders In Rome, or even arbitrarily to crsmp
anS 81
to deprive him Of the most powerful and eff
Gent means of governing the Universal
Church Nobody is ignorant that. as Rome is
Houses, which have existed there for centu-
ries. are, 80 to speak, 50 many seminaries,
founded by the I'M wsaried labors of the Roman
beuefaotors, many Of whom were foreigners,
aud governed by the Supreme Pontifcal au-
thority, from which. they derive dlife, diree'
ton, and counsel.
Those Houses were instituted and destined
to furnish workers and missionaries in All
parts of the world. To prove the benefits
which those votaries of the Evangelical Coun-
wealth and to humanity itself, it IL not neces-
sary to go back to history; it is sufficient to
cast one's eyes on the different countries OF
regions Of Asia, Africa, America, and Qceanica,
where even to the present day those zealous
missionaries Of God are devoting, with exem-
and even their lives, to the salvation Of the
peoples. If, then, the Religious Orders be
suppressed'in Rome, or if their exercises De
cramped In any manner Whatever, me "o ZIG
benefits of those pious aAl charitable institu-
tions The fact is, that in Rome are the Novi-
ciates where fresh preachers OF the faith are
to be trained to Rome the Religious OF an
nations have recourse to recruit their spirit
and to render an account Of their work. In
Rome, under the shadows of the Apostolic See,
even Of those which are foreign. Lastly, it is
in Rome that the Superiors-G General, the d.g,
nitaries of all the Orders, and the chiefs Of all
Provinces are chosen, with the concurrence OF
then, can it be hoped that without those great
centres, organized as they are at present, and
without that supreme direction, those Evan
and bene6cent work with the same success
as they do nowf No; to suppress the Religious
Houses in Rome is to deprive of life the Reii-
despoi those in Rome of their possessions, is
to despoil the whole of the Orders of their
lawful property. To suppress the. Religious
Orders in Rome is. therefore, not merely q
glaring Injustice done to withdrawing indi-
viduals, it is, in fact to assai the lnternation-
oil rights of all Catholics.
Moreover, gratitude obliges Us to assert that
the suppression of the Religious Houses in
Rome would also cause great injury. to this
Apostolic See, because, of the most distinguish
ed inmates Of those Houses, some devote them
laborers in tho Sacred Ministry, while others
| assist the different (Roman) congregations by
| furnishing information about the different
Missions entrusted to Their care; py aPPiyng
of error and again, by afordiug their advice
upon the various disciplinary questions that
arise in reference to the different churches Of
the Catholic world. The. real object of the
usurping Government BY this measure of cup
pressing the Religious Orders at Rome is then
very evident. Yes, my Lord Cardinal, this
of that fatal and destructive scheme, which,
ever since the day of the violent seizure of
Rome, has been hypocritieally carried out to
the prejudice not only of Our Supreme Apos-
ly said-they meant to deprive the Pope of the
Patrimony of the Church, that patrimony
granted to the Roman Pontiffs by the admira-
Die design of Divine Providence, and possessed
by them during more than eleven centuries on
the most sacred and the most legitimate titles,
to the plain advantage of all Christendom.
Henceforward, who can be under any misap-
prehension as to the character of that scheme
supreme Head of the Church, by lowering its
dignity, by impeding the action of Our august
| ministry, and by oyerthrowipg the secular
organization of this Apostolic Sect You, my
Lord Cardinal, are daily witness of the usur-
pations, which sometimes under one pretext,
sometimes under another, are committed to
| the detriment of religion, of morality, and of
justice; but all which usurpations tend to-
| wards the execution of that destructive scheme.
Is not this the tendency of such proceedings
as the gradual Withdrawing from Our authority
| of oil those charitable and benevolent institu-
lions, of those educational colleges and public
schools, which have ever been the objects of
the earnest and loving care of the Pontiffs,
Our predecessorsf Is not this, too, the ten
dency of that fatal law by which young men
devoted to the Church's service are forcibly
oondenned to the military service; aud by
which, as by an memorable knife, the Churchs
most promising hopes are cut off, and the sane
tuary and the cloister are deprived of a chosen
phalanx of youthful and laborious ministers
Is not this the tendency OF that uubridled
liberty of teaching all kinds of errors whether
by means of the press, or by means Of lectures
publicly and seandalously given with SO much
impudence by apostates>and rebels against the
Chnrch's authority ! Is not this the tendency
of that relaxation of morals, and of that inso-
liant <nc, IL. 80