The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-14
Address of the United Episcopate Of Bavaria to His
Majesty, the King, Concerning the Religious Or
ders and Congregations

Address of the United Rpiscopate Of Bavaria to His
Majesty, the King, Concerning tho Religious Or
ders and Congregations 10,
May it please your Majesty, our most gra-
cious Lord and Kipg,-When in the autumn Of
last year the Bishops of Germany assembled
was their duty to send Pastoral Letter to
their respective hocks, in which they treated
of the present condition of the Church ; and
they insisted at some length upen the twofold
subject of positive Law as it is in its own
sence, and as it was understood at that time
in Germany. It was impossible, of course, for
the Bishops to avoid pointing ont the violation
of law and of freedom which Was then So
grievously disturbing the Church through the
action of the new law affecting the Society of
Jesus and the other kindred" Orders and
Religious Congregations.
Many arguments, founded both on equity and
Justice were adduced, which mp to the present
moment remain unanswered, in favor of grant
ing to monasteries, converts, aud other reli-
gious institutes protection and security against
u farther extension of the hAgrantiy unjust
law above mentioned. Great, indeed, WAS the
grief of us the unterssned Arch bishops aud
bishops Of Bavaria WHOM authentic intelli-
gence reached us that the number of those
who have fallen victins to that law ID
considered large enough to satisfy it's require
monts. Amongst the Religious Orders ex stiug
in Bavaria, the priests of the Congregation of
Our Holy Redeemer are condemned, as we are
Informed, TO suffer tho same hard fate which
befell the Society of Jesus some two years ago.
The Congregation of the RedemptorIsts WAS
invited to this country by his Majesty, King
Louis l., of pious memory, and also enjoyed
num erons marks of favor aud affection from
the father of your Majesty. Maximiliian the
Second, of pious memory To them WAS gra
cously assigned the chapel of tue Blessed
Virgin Mary at Alottiug, that spot SO rich in
grace, and gifted with n treasure precious in
deed to the people of BAvarru, the hearts OF
the beloved Kings Who have ruled over them
And yet this congregation bas been Suppressed.
Priests have been sent into exile, who by their
fort ha hnl n Ia ~ h
in y in missioDa aud retreats by their edifyiuK
example, and by their uudoubted disinterest-
edness. had succeeded in gaining the special
aud unlimited confidence of all Catholics in
Bavaria. The same law which bAuished the
Jesuits, has driven these unofending mon
| from their peaceful abodes, aud has put before
| them the alternative either Of renounciug the
exercise of their prieStly functions, or of leSV
| iBR the country Of their birth aud home in
/ order to seek o now field for their missionary
| labors in q foreign land. All this Is done with
out sPecifyiug any crime committed by those
| who are undergoing 30 terrible q penalty, and
without aGording them any opportunity of
proving their Innocence. Yet these are bene-
| Ats which have never been refused In tho civ
| ilizsd world to those who are on trial for some
alleged offence. All this has been done with
out reason assigned; unless, indeed, we arc to
| consider sufficient reason the ropr0ach cast
4 upon the Redemptorists of - antaEonism to
| the State" . repTOach based on no other foun
| dation than that ignorance Of, and want of
| confidence in, all Catholic institutions, which
| are common to the enemies of the Church. All
this is done without considering that severely
as the measures adopted fall upou those whom
| they more Immediately concern, they weigh,
if possible, more heavily still upon the good
Catholic population of Bavaria.
AlasI wero it possible for to replace by
any other means the Fathers who have been
banished, the deep and fostering wound from
| which we suffer might eventually be healed.
Bat We, the undersigned ArchbishoIS and
Bishops of Bavaria, are bound to make known
that the scarcity of priests is becoming greater
day by day, and must in tie present position
of things ever increase. For while the spir-
tual needs of the individual parishes are
always aUgmeuting, death is constantly de-
privIDg of members of our clergy. We are
! therefore quite unable, with tne recruits who