The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-08
Freedom of the Church in Italy.
no

A correspondent of the London Tablet calls
attention to the fact that 1T was SAID that
when Rome became the capital of United
Itnly, the connection between Church and
State would cease and an end be put to the
prosecutions and penalties directed against a
State-paid clergy. But although ROME has
been seized by Victor Emmanuel, the union
between Church and State has been retained,
and the clergy are still fined and imprisoned,
as if they were dsobedient State function aries.
Thus, in tho month of December 1873, the
excellent Father Alberto Laguzzi was con-
demned at the Court of Ass2e at Rovigo to
four months incarceration and a heavy fine,
for having, in u sermon, censnred the laws
concerning Church property. Aud on tho 18th
of December last, the Assize Court of Nercell
condemned Father Grotti to a months i'm
prisonment and fine of 800 lire, for having
introduced n picture of the Virgin into the
Church of Villata, during n Mission, and fer
having induced u purchaser of Church goods
to sign paper promising restitution thereof
In the neighborhood of Bella, priest was
arrested for having, from the pulpit, spoken
oHensively CONCERNING the State and its instr
buttons. Between the years 1S+s and 1874
fort -nino penal processes against priests were
instituted in the Courts of Turin, Chambery,
Casalc, and Genoa, but of these forty-nine only
nine ended in conviction and condemnation, as
was observed by Senator Sciopis in 1854
Since that year processes and convictions
against the clergy have increased in conse-
qucuco of the introduction of fresh laws. The
tnttd Cdttolica gives list of various offences
which show how far the Church in Italy is
fr,n f,,r al 81
D,Ilm,S on the Feast of the Statuto or Constitu-
ton, prosecutions wcro issued against the
Bishops Of Faenza, who was condemned to
three years imprisonment and q fine of 1000
lire; against the NicnrGcuoral Of Bologna,
with three years imprisonment aud fine OF
1000 lire; against tho Bishops and Canons OF
the Cathedral Church Of placcnza, who were
Gncd and imprisoned still moro heavily
against Cardinal Baluiii, Bishop of Imola; and
against several other ccciesiastics for tho same
offence. Eleven persons--includiug the bishops
of Foggia, Saluz2o, Mouduyi, Fauo, GuastaIia
and ModiGliana, and the Archbishops of Sro-
leto and Brindisi-wcrc prosecuted for having
published rrscripts or briefs without the Royal
LroPdtHr. For the crime of refusing Sacra-
mcnts, twCnty-siN persons were prCSccutcd
and among these were Cardinal Morichini
! RNhNr of JEST, and the Bishops of Urbino
| Fiaccnln, Cariati, Ca-pi, Montcpu}ciano and
HmEamn. fvc cCcicsiastCS were prosecuted
for refusing 10 accept as sponsors at baptism
. accommodated persons. SIX cCclcsiastics
were thrown into prison for expressions iniu.
rious t" the Government and among these six
were the Archbishop of Sassari and the Bishop
Of I">so Ihronc. NtE clcrgymrn were iiucd
aud imprisoned for saying that the purch asers
"t sr"liated Church property are Hnble &c
decentralization. And four c}crgymcu were
condemned Tor refusing, in certain cases, burial
according to the rites of The Church. There
were various other offences which were pun.
| ishcd. The Nicar.Gcueral of Manfredouia was
found guilty of publishing Pontiiical indul
genco. Cardinal Pccchi admonishcd three
priests. And the Archbishop of Otrauto com
mitted the crime of omittng the name OF
Victor Emmanuel in the prayers on Good Fri
day,
From this it may be seen how the separation
Of Church and State is carried out in Italy
md how completely the CavouC idea of Ere,
Church in a Free State is ignored by the pres
Ont rulers of United Italy.