The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-19
Persecution In Brazil.

i Persecution In Brazil.
Royalty in America shows itself to h
essentially of the same nature as the Eu
ropean stock from which it has sprung
"A King is naturally impatient of contro
or, even, opposition. Vested with immens.
power, he is not inclined to be scrupuloui
IN Keeping within its legitimate bounds
but finds many temptations to encroact
upon provinces where he has no name,
| of jurisdiction.
The two great and distinct powers known
to men are the temporal or civil, and the
spiritual. The king, head of the civil gov
eminent, naturally finds his field of auth
orlty limited by the boundary of the sp:ri-
tual domain, and it is there that the tempta-
ton of trespassing, presents itself most
constantly. He is inclined to have his
own opinion about how Church mat
tiers should be controlled, and, becoming a
partlzan in contests that arise, he steps in
as champion of onesside or the Other and
throws the weight of his sceptre into the
scale. If this were done as an ally of lepi-
Innate power in the Church, it would be
IN furtherance of the harmony which ought
TO exist, and without which his own power
has no sure basis. But often his sympatb-
les are with the rebellious, and his power
Is welded as an intruder claiming suprem-
acy where he can only be an auxiliary.
mus, IN Brazil, the Bishop of Olinda
las directed religious societies to exnel
Ill Free Masons from their membersbip.
IND the Emperor has taken issue with him
hereon' His government actually caused
he venerable Bishop to be arrested. tried
md sentenced to four years. imprisonment
IL nard labor in the penitentiary for his
'''loh IN the premises. 1t is pronounced
" the Supreme Court to be a grave of
ence against the laws of the country.
Inc IDEA that the laws of a country have
1 rlgh1 any thing to do with Church mem
ersnlp and Church discipline is absurd.
the government had made a religion. of
curse it might control it; but the idea If
eng'on Is essentially that it is framed by
90 himself. Has He given civil govern {
lent the authority to administer or cont,o, E
And' If He has not, why should it i
SuFp that r1ghtF Expelling Free Masons c
o" rellglous society or snb- organiza-
on is included within the power of ex- r
ching them from the Church itself. q
1t would be preposterous in a govern t
ent to recognize a body of men as a v
lurch holding directly from God. HAVING "
autonomy and independent organization C
Its own, and yet say to it, "you shall il
t expel any member no matter for what C
use l shall say who are your mem. a
RS !" This would put it completely in a.
power of the government, and vi1tuaIlv Fl
ocialm its subsection while recognizinc al
independence. This inconsistencv tt
'ulo EXHIBIT the absurdity asserted I'll
owe. 81
IN the other hand if the whole of re;ipian is
1s'sts IN o certain body of truths known Dc
revelation, if it is a mere system of lii
'ology without any organic form and
"eT' II there is no Church whatever but gi
u community of conviction which NAV pc
nee TO co-exist in a number of mindo m
n it Is impossible for the State to vest - ms
Ii religious authority which God has lat
hheld and to which the State itself hos He
shadow of claim. Its recognition of VIII
lsloIe Church at all, is, in that casa no
ally with its action above discussed, an fin
lrdity and farce. is.
clear and, apparently, fair narration &c
proceedings resulting in the conviction
he Bishop Of olinda, will DO found elsa- we
.1