The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-16
habitants to sslohlspaatically subyert the cccle.


siasticai government.
Not less grave Ia what che Church suffers
In Catholic Spain from the hands of the civil
power. We have learned that law con.
corning the endowment of the clergy has
been proposed and ratified, by which not
only are the solemn treaties and conventions
broken, but absolutely every rule Of right
and justice is trampled under foot. This
law, which is calculated to increase the des-
sitution aud scrvitnde Of the clergy and aug
ment and increase the evils done to that IL
lustrlous nation in these later years. to the
injury Of faith and ecclesiastical discipline.
by deploIahle series of acts of the Spanish
Government has called for the just and en-
phatic complaints Of our venerable brother
the Bishop Of Spain, as 10 now calls for our
solemn eXpostulaiion.
Sadder things are also to be told of that
small but ithpudept band of Arinenians
who, especially at Coiistaitinorle, have en-
dcavored by audacious fraud and violence TO
oyerwhclm the much greater number who
remain faithful in their duty and faith. Be
lying their Catholic name, they continue in
opposition to our own supreme authority and
their legitimate patriarch, who, expelled by
their artitice, has been compelled to fly, an
exile, to Us. BY their craftiness they have
found favor with the civil power, SO that,
notwithstanding the eXertions of our legate
extraordinary sent thithcr to arrange this az
fair. and our own letter addressed to the
most serene Emlicror OF the Turks, by force
of arms they have converted TO their own
use some Of the Catholic churches; they
have assembled in caucus (conciiddutGn)
and have appointed schismatical patriarch,
and have succeeded in dcpriying the Catho.
lies Of the rights which they always up
to this time enjoyed through public agree
mcntS. Concerning these troubles OF the
Church we shall perhap deal more explicitly
if our just protests are despised.
i'ut amongst so many causes tor grief we
rejoice. venerable brothers, that you can be
conSoled, as we ourselves have been raised
indefutigabenesS of the bishops of these re-
round the loins ia truth and clad with the
breast plate of justice, and closely bound to
this chair of Peter, frightened by no dangers,
cast down by no afflictou, both sngly and
in body, by word and writing, by eXpostu-
iations and pastoral letters. together with
their clergy and faithful people, bravely and
with alacrity defend the rights OF the Church,
of this Holy See, and Of themselves. They
restrain unjust violence, refute calumnies,
discover plots, defeat the audacity of the
impious, and show to all the light Of truth.
They strengthen the good, and they oppose
to the assaults of the enemy attacking them
on all sides the strength of z compact unity.
TO us, afflicted with so nlany evils of the
Church, they afford q most comforting con-
ISOLATION and powerful help, which Will
certainly bc greater if they take care that the
bonds of faith and charity in which their
minds and affections are joined should daily
become closer. To secure this let no one
think it inopportune that those who, with
the authority Of mctropolitaDs, preside over
the ecclesiastical provinces should confer
| with their sulfra@ans in the best manner fllat
circumstances will permit. on those measures
which will mutually unite and strengthen
| them all in one mind and sentiment, and let
| them prepare themselves to undergo with
| unanimous effort the difficult contest against
the assaults of the impious.
| The Lord has truly smitten US, venerable
| brothers, with His sword, hard, great, ana
strong. The smoke of His anger ascends
and the fire burns from his face. But VIII
| God cast us away forever, or will He not be
| appca>ed? No; for the Lord does not forget
| to have mercy, and lie will not stay His iner-
cics in His anger, for He is IN ghty to pardon,
and lie may BE- propitiated by those invoking
Him in truth, and He shall pour out on Us
| the riches of His mercy. Let Ils cndeavor
to appcasc the divine anger in this acceptablc
| time of the advent Of our Lord. Humbly
walking in ncwnC>s Of life. let Us go to the
| King OF Peace, who is about to come to an
nolinca peace to men and goodwill. The
| Just and mcrciful God, by whose mysterious
purpose we are permitted to see the sorrow
| of our people and the sorrow Of orr holy
| city, and to sit there when ii is given into
| The bands of the enemy, He will incline His
car to hear-He will open His eyes and see
our desolltion and the city upon which His
| niine is invoked. IIus IL.