The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-07-05
MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN NEWS.
ITO June I3th.l

The question of the canonization of the
e English martyrs, which has been for some
years before the Holy See, is moving on
another step. Father Morris, S. j., has
been appointed Postuator for the cause in
England by His Grace the Archbishop ;
3 and some Of the OratOrian Fathers in Lon :
don have been nominated to examine the
evidence. The traditions of devotion to
varions of the martyrs which exist in
different parts of England are being care
fully collected together, and proofs must
be adduced-and they are forthcoming
that the cause for which those, whose can
onization is looked forward to, suffered was
not political but purely religious. We are
well aware, of course, how the world
when it persecutes, loves TO lay it's iustifi :.
| cation upon political grounds. Our Lord
was put to death because, they said, he
stirred up sedition. The Jews to this day
deny that He was crucifed for purely re-
! ligious motives. In all agee, in England
three hundred years ago as in Germany to.
day, the State assigns political reasons for
prosecuting Christians. 1t is not difficult
however, for the Church to distinguish be:
tween motives. 1t will be great consol-
alton to English Catholics to be able to
honor in the liturgy the memory of their
ancestors in the Faith. 1t is not likely,
however, that the canonization, if it be
decreed, will take place for some years.
THE PRUssIAN PERSECUTION
The persecution goes ON apace in Ger
many. Bishop Martin of Paderborn has
received notice to present himself within
eight days to undergo the six weeks of i'm
prisonment, to which he has been condemn
ed for appointing priest to q parish. 10
Posen still more severe measure has been
resorted to. Not content with selling all
the personal effects of the Archbishop him
self and reducing him to heggary, the Ger
man Government has now seized and sold
the property of the=Arch bishopric ITSELF
Catholics need not be told what this means.
The funds OF the Archbishopric are in great
part the funds of the Catholic poor. Mean
time, the laity are standing with unshaken
fidelity by their priests. A Catholic AS
ISOLATION in Cologne has shown how deeply
the minds of Catholic Germany are stirred
by recently passing resolutions not to at
tend theatres, balls, or entertainments of
any kind while the persecution of the
Church continues. Masses are celebrated
all through the Empire for the repose of
the soul of the late Herr MaIinckrodt.
THE GERMAN scHlsMATIc SYNOD.
We are able to form an approximate ca.
innate of the numbers of the 'Old- Catho
lic," or New-Protestant sect in Germany
from the figures put forth by the "First
Synod" of the new denomination, which
concluded it's sttings the other day at
Bonn. There were present at that concilia-
buluhg twenty-eight priests and fifty seven
lay delegates now, as one delegate is
elected for every 200 members of the sect
that proportion would give III 400 as the
total of its adherents. This is not q very
imposing show of numerical importance to
stand side by side with the twenty four
| millions of real Catholics in the German
Empire neither is it very encouraging
result to have accrued from four years Of
Governmental patronage and wire. pulling.
and the under working of the Free Masonic
Societies. "BisbOp" Reinkeps of course
presided at the "Synod," after having per
Petrated the revolving proclamation of cele
brating the Mass OF the Holy Ghost. The
acts of the Synod consist partly in the
affirmation of doctrines that have never
been denied, but always upheld, in the
Catholic Church-such as the necessity of
coDtrition to valid absolution partly of
the reform OF abuses that have never ex-
listed, and partly of the bold denial of
Catholic verities, such az the obligation of
confession and absolution, and the neces
slty or communion once year, which no
"Old Catholic need make unless he feels
he needs it. Frequent communion is re-
commended but, shocking to relate
Without confession The .'Jesuitica, alb
use" of confession, for purposes of spiritual
instruction and direction. was condemned |
ana toroloden. The proceedings concluded |
oy the reading of n communication from |
Or. Doliinger, e1cusing himself from at
tendance on the score of ILL health
=
Canonzation would hardly be descrip.
tive WORD for the celebration at Bedford
on Monday the 10th of June in honor of
the great Protestant allegorist. There
weres indeed, several things done on the
occasion that seem suggestive of a certain
analogy to the honors paid by the Church
to hero ofthe Faith bronze statue, the
gift of the Duke of Bedford, erected on
ST. Peters green, Bedford, was "unyeiIeSm
by the wife of the chief Protestant digni-
tary of Westminster. The town church
bells we're ru9g in Peals; there was a large
assemblage Of people, mostly of the hum
bier class, eager to participate in the eultua.
s sneEe %ege oEdly oratorieaI panegyrics
an exposition of "relics :" bat. what woniJ
be the essential matter with Catholcs.
there was nothing done or said to indicate
that those present had any community or
doctrinal belief with John Bunyan stiIi
less that they regarded him as even now {
an influential member at all, of the reli- {
gious organization to which they them {
solves BELONGED and. as snnh nLlS |