The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-05
AUSTRIA AND THE PAPACY.
Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Pope Plus *.
to the Prelates Of the Austrian Empire
TheLay Legislation Against the Church
and tho Concordat-Pontifcal
Appeal to Francis Joseph.
From the Catholic Review, April Al

His Holiness Pope Plus the Ninth has addressed
an encyclical letter to the cardinals, archbishops
and bishops OF the Church In the Austrian Empire
ON the subject OF the ecclesiastical bills which
have been submitted to the Legislator IN Vienna
by the Ministry OF the Emperor Francis Joseph.
| The following Is the complete text OF the
ENCYCLICAL.
DEAR Sons AND VENERABLE BRETHREN. HEALTH
AND APOSTOLIC BENEDIcTIoN:-
last. announced TO the Catholic world The serious
\ persecution which has been inaugurated against
the Church In Prussia and IN switzerland, than
fresh source OF anxiety was prepared for us by the
news of other acts OF injustice, menacing this
Church, which may Welt Ike its Divine Spouse,
| utter this cOmplaint-"iou have added to the
| pains oil my wounds These instances give us all
the more anxiety they are committed by the
most glorious period OF Christian history, fought
valanty lor the Catholic fath IN the closest ALL
ance with this Apostolic See.
| 1t Is true that lew years back certain DEGREES
/ were published in that monarchy which are dia-
metricay opposed to the most sacred rights or
the Church and Of the treaties solemnly con-
cluded, and which we, cOnlOrmably with our duty,
condemned aud declared inva in our allocutlon OF
June %, 1863 addressed to our venerable brothers.
the cardinals OF the Holy Roman Cnulch. But now
new laws nave been presented for the de-
end and 70 Lead d the nae
the most pernicious condition oil servillty
and to place her entirely at the mercy Of the secu
ment OF our Lord Jesus Christ For the Creator
and Redeemer OF the human race has founded
upon earth; He has not only endowed 1t with the
supernatural giits OF an nalible teaching Tor the
hood Tor the performance or divine services
ana the sanctlIcaton OF souls oy the sacrifice
i u poWer to Create laws aiSS and fVe 70
Judge and exercise saluary constraint in all
things relatinE to the true end Of the Kingdom Of
ecclesiastical government based on the teachings
OF Jesus Christ, Is entirely distinct and indepen.
dent OF the secular authority. This Kingdom OF God
on earth Is o Kingdom OF perfect society which
rules and governs Itself according to It's own laws
and It's right, by It's own chiefs, who watch
souls, not to secular sovereigns but to
instituted pastors and doctors. Who, in their spr
itual administration, are subject to secular
power Just as It Is the duty Of the hierarchy to
govern so also IS 1t the duty OIL the faithful accord
ing to the admonition OF the apostle, to obey and
to submit to them; and therefore, it is that the
not to be nteriered with by the civil power in its
sacred duty OF following the discipline and laws Of
You recognize, with u.s. dear sons and venerable
brothers. That the laws debated to-day IN the Aus
TRAN Rechsrath contain and manifest serious
violation OF this divine constitution OF the Church
and an intOerable suoverslOn OF the rights OF the
Apostolic See, OF the holy canons and OF the entire
In erect, by virtue OF these laws, the Church OF
Christ almost all relations and relative to
the direction OF the faithful is judged and consd
cred completely subordinate and subjected to the
superior power Of the secular authorities, and
TINS is very openly expressed and SO to saw spoken
OF as principle In the document which explains
the full object and sense OF the laws In question.
IL is also expressly declared that the secular gov
eminent, III virtue OF It's unlimited power, pos
sesses the right or making laws on ecclesiastical
SUBJECTS just has on those purely secular and
to overlook and dominate the Church just as II 1t
were mere human institution within the Empire.
BY this the secular government arrogates to it.
constitution ana rights Of the Catholic Church. as
well as over It's exalted administration, which 1t
exercises 81 ITSELF parity oy It's laws and acts and
Hence 1t follows that this will ana power OF the
civil government usurps the place OF the religious
power, which was established by divine ordination
Tor the direction Of the Church and ediflcation OF
the body OF Christ. Against such O usurpati0n
OF the sanctuary the great Ambrose rightly says
"rhey say that everything is permitted to Cesar,
anu thai all things belong to him." answer:-"D0
not imagine that thou possessest o an imperial rght
thyselr but be subject to God" lie has wrltten:-
What is Gods 10 Gods; ana what Cesars,
priests, the churches.
AS regards these laws which have been preceded
by exposition OF their object they are IN reality
OF the same nature and kind as those OF Prussia,
and prepare Tor the Church In Austria the same
misfortune, although they appear at frst sight
to be more moderate when compared with the
Prusslan laws.
we do not care to examine in detail each article
of these laws but we cannot pass IN silence the
cruel insult which by the presentation OF such
laws has been offered to us and TO this Apostolic
See, well as to yourselves, dear sons and dear
brethren, and TO the entire Catholic people OF the
Empire.
tween ourselves and the illustrious Emperor, aud
was confirmed by this Catholic sovereign by the
most solemn promises and promulgated through
Chamber OF Deputies, with the declaration that 1t
Is completely without force and annulled and this
without any previous negotiation with the ApOs-
Iolic See, and moreover with public con tempt of
our most Just representations, Could such
when public latin had stiIl some value =
But now. IN this sad epocn, 1t Is not only under
put We olss ts
you, well beloved sons and venerable brothers.
We reprove all the more this outrage inflicted
upon the Church as the cause and pretcxt OF this
rupture OF the concordat and OF other laws which
attached to i = insiaousy rested upon
published and confirmed by the Ecumeni-
cal Council of the Vatican; and they
plous manner aud styled them new fashioned,
and changes made in the articles OF faith AMI In
the constitution OF the Church.
There may De In the Empire OF Austria some
persons who have renounccd the Catholic laith on
account Of these unworthy inventions; but It's
household preserve and confess It, as do
also the vast majority OF the people, and
1t is to this people that these laws founded such
inventions, are to be given. Therefore, without
our knowledge and will, they have torn the con-
yentlon winch we nad concluded Gu with the noble
and the advantage OF the state. A new form OF
right has been invented and they have attributed
to the civil government new power, so that 1t
can interfere IN all ecclesiastical matters, and so
tnat IL can ordain and arrange the affairs OF the
Church as 1t thinks fI.
With the projected laws they have been able to
bind the Church with heavy chains and to paralyze
her action and her lIvloable liberty which she
must possess Tor the government OF the faith
1ul, the religious guidance OF the people, and even
of the clergy TO help the progress Of CHRISTIAN life
towards evangelical perfection, IN the admlnistra-
tion and even possession OF property. 1hey intro.
duce perversion IN discipline, they favor apostacy,
and the union and conspiracy OF the sects against
the true dogmas OF Christianity Is actually pro-
tected and assisted by laws.
In truth, great task would fall to our lot If we
had to mention the nature and number OF the evils
which we sh0pld have to fear as soon as the laws
are In Operation; but, dear sons and venerable
brothers, they cannot either deceive us
or escape your wisdom, for really all the
ecclesiastical functions and benehces, and
the exercise OF pastoral duties SO entirely
subjected to the cvll power, that the ecclesiastical
superiors, suppOslng that they would submit to the
new laws-wnich Is lar from being possble-w0uld
ultimately not be able administer their diOceses
(for which they nave strict account 10 render to
Cody according to the sautary rules OF the Church.
but they would be obliged to exercise this direc
ton and TO RESTRAIN IL according to the will and