The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-04
The Threatened Persecution OF the
Religious Orders in Germany and
Italy.

The Threatened Persecution OF the
Religious Orders in Germany and
Italy.
The threatened suppression of religious
orders in Germany and Italy has not only
caused widespread disaffection in these coun-
tries, but has deeply affected the whole Catho-
lie community. The policy adopted by Bis
marck and Victor Emmanuel is looked on in
the light of religious persecution rather than
as political expedient and protests have
been made against the injustice of driving out
of their country set of men against WHOM no
crime has been proven. Nor is this feeling
altogether confined to the members of the
Catholic communion, but finds expression
through the enlightened and liberal minds of
other sects. These look on the question not
so much in its religious aspect but as grave
attack on the rights and liberties of the indi-
vidual Father Bjerrlng, distinguished
Russian priest of the Greek Church, declares
that the course adopted by Bismarck finds no
sympathy among the enlightened classes in
Russia, and is not calculated to meet the ap-
proval of fair-minded Christians in any
country. The meeting of prominent Eng
lish Catholics in London, presided
over by the Duke of Norfolk, at which
the distinguished Archbishop Manning
and Monsignor Capel assisted, gave decided
expression to their condemnation of the policy
which the Courts of Berlin and Rome threaten
to adopt in regard to the religious orders. The
influential character of the persons present at
this meeting gives TO its utterances weight and
Importance that do not usually belong to
public meetings. Most of those present were
men of the highest wealth and position, who
were not likely to indulge in exaggerated or
violent language. We may, therefore, accept
their opinions as fairly representing the views
of the Catholic masses, and from them may
judge how deeply the Catholic mind has been
moved by the threatened interference with the
liberty of the religious orders Of the Church.
The day for persecution for conscience has
passed, and both Bismarck and Emmanuel
mistake the genius of the age if they think
they can revive the practices of semi-barba-
rous and bigoted times without exposing them
selves to the condemnation Of liberal minds
the world over. Nor can rulers nowadays
afford to despise the opinions of foreign
nations. The procurement of English
opinion, through the London meeting, will
encourage disaffection and discomfort in Ger
many as well as in Italy, and in neither
has the government that soidity which
might enable it to regard with indifference the
IS of re c,11,i
Besides, the appearance Of anything having
even the color of religious persecution against
any sect or creed-Turk, Jew, Christian
or Mormon-is so out OF keeping
with modern thought that even those
who differ most widely in religious
belief from the prosecuted will feel sympathy
for them in their misfortune It is also a
strange contrast which is offered by the diff
ferent policies adopted at this hour by
the semi-barbarous ruler Of Japan, and
that pursued by two of the most en-
ightened and so-called liberal governments
in the world. While Japan opens her doors to
every sect and iberalizes her governmental
institutions, Germany and Italy, the cham
pions Of free thought and political liberty, are
adopting narrow-minded and bigoted mea-
sures which will inevitably involve them in
serious difficulties with large section Of their
subjects The liberals Of the world looked
with pleasure on the unifcation Of Germany
and Italy, and hopes were INDUCED in that
these countries would in time become the great
supports of freedom of thought as we'll as of
political liberty on the Continent of Europe.
1t is therefore, with deep regret that they see
them adopt policy which threatens to revive
the legislation of the Dark Ages under the
pretence of advancing the interests of free
dom. But liberty erected on the basis of pro-
scription and religious intolerance can at best
be regarded as a doubtful good, and it con
never be desirable to have recourse to class
legislation. If the members Of the religious
orders have been guilty Of any crime against
the State they should be punished by the
action Of the law Between them and other
offenders there should be no distinction. They
have right to claim equality before the law,
its protection and its punishments being
melted out with equal-handed justice. If
charged with crime let them be tried, and if
found guilty punished; but to punish them
unconvicted and to Danish them unheard are
not in keeping with the strict dictates of
justice Such policy is opposed TO the spirit
Of the nineteenth century.
Topics OF the Religious Press.