The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-29
Tho Persecut ton in switzsrlauds

Inc persecution continues to rage. partica
riry IA tue Diocese of Bale, which com prise
amongst population of zoo. 600 Protestant O
an sects. This diocese takes in nearly half o
S s:"m Hence the sectarians have spe
cialiy directed their batteries against it, viii
| the view of destroying the Catholic Chnrci
throughout the whole of Switzerland. The
present persecution is very dangerous for il
The sn ecaas character n Of Hypocrisy abont it.
anti-Chrlstian movement with all their might.
iIe onJect Is to establish q schismatio Church.
seailing itself national, which will end with
having nothing IN common with Christianity
aue German Prnssiau will be the Pope of the
Protestant German Empire. What is actually
. p1,ns done IN SWltzerland is only sample Of
what would be done in France and se.here
not doubt it. f' wv S""
The Bernese Government alone, violating all
tieatIcs' an laws, aud all rights has suspend
oed more than seventy cures from every ecclesi-
astical function; benceforth regarding them
only as civil functionaries {; it Intends to de-
prve them oil. On one condition alone can
tDey escape 1T is that of embracing scbism
hitherto, OF the nnety-seven priests in the
French part of tho Canon of Berne, all with
out exception have remained faithful. They
have been deprived of all their revenues. PM
lie worship has been abolished throughout all
that part Of the country. which numbers more
than 10000 Catholics. The priests are allowed
to say Low Mass in the church, but they are
forbidden to do anything more under penalty
OF fine of from ten francs to 200, doubled
each time for each act. There are no public
services in the churches. Toe priests can no
mun'on. They are specially forbidden to
preach and catechise any where, or to burv
their dead They are allowed to baptize in
private dwelling houses, and to adminjster
the Sacrament of Matrimony in like manner. |
but only in surplice, without any other ga. |
cred vestment. This Government has estab- |
Iished civil marriage for Catholics only, not
for Professionals. The latter in this canton are
about 300 600 in number. AS all the priests of !
the locality are faithful to their duty and to |
the Church., search is now being made in |
rance and Belgium for apostate or suspended |
priests to be introduced into tho parishes of |
I he Jura in the Catholic part of the canton of I!
Berne. The Government wishes to diminish
t h u. number Of parishes. The Catholic popu-
tor long time. But it is III n state of CON
sternatlon and would be crushed at the least
movement. Petitions and protests are being
made, bnt to no purpose. There are also some
apostate Catholics in This part of the country;
they occupy all the important posts and keep
the population in terror. Aud as all this has |
been very cieverly managed the position is
very difficult and painful one. | need not add
hat the clergy are forbidden all official com
nunication with the Bishop of their diocese
whom five Protestant or scbismatic Govern.
nents have formally deprived, forbidding him
% exercise in these cantons any act Of his
EPISCOPAL Office.
BY far tue majority of the people through
'ut the whole diocese remain faithful TO the
church. Amongst the clergy, only four have
allen away. These four unhappy men have
'een placed by the Government of Soleure in
PARISHES where there are already apostate Ca
holics. But even in these parishes a great
lumber remain faithful. These last have to
niter every sort of violence; their religious
ioeTtysiS shackeled in every conceivable way;
hidreu are forced, under pen Atty of q fine 10 | ,
re paid by the parents, to attend the catechet. |
cal INSTRUCTION of tho intruders. The lawful
riests and cures who have been deprived by .
Thpi rad fin, .
$ best they can in private houses and have to
uffer ntany veXatious. ,