Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1874-02-21
[From the New York Tribune.
Berlin and Rome.


Government and the Roman Catholic
Church is rapidly coming to a crisis
Archbishop Ledochowski, after the
confscation of all his property by re-
peatcd faes, has been imprisoned fol
appointing parish priests without the
conssnt's " civil authorities, and 70:
threatening one Of his priests with ex.
communication. Pastors who deriv>
their appointment from MIN lave
been warned that they will be pun
ished if they attempt to execute any
ecclesiastical functions. One of the
official newspapers Of Germany has
aroused general excitement and alarm
by limiting that something must be
done to restrain the violence Of the
Ultramontane press, not only within
the empire, but in France and Bel
gium. The houses Of the Jeaults bAve
been broken up, and the members Of
the society are compelled to choose
between quitting the country and
abandoning their religious character.
In short, the Imperial Government
makes no secret Of its belief that Ul-
tramontanism, that is to say the re-
ligious opinion OF nearly ali Catholic
Germany, is subversiyc of the estab-
lished political order, and does not
conceal its intention to assume the
control Of all ecclesiastical appoint
ueuts, and Of all religious education,
not to speak Of more violent ncaaUre.:
against the most conspicuous Of the
Papal champions.
The result Of year contest III this
matter is beginning to appear. The
Government has got one Archbishop
in prison, and has cncourA ,cl the for,
nation Of congregations Of the Old
Catholics which congregations
there were about one hundred in the
empire, according to the statement Of
Bishop Reinkens last September. But
on the other hand an extraordinary
impulse has been given to the Church
party, and the recent elections have
enormously increased the strength OF
the Ultramontane opposition IN the
German Parliament. This Of course
was to have been expected. The
surest way to encourage the Roman
Catholics was to martyr an oDstnatt
Archbishop or two, and as Prince Bis
lnarck is likely to 50 on from one
hostile measure to another it Is plnlu
that the danger Of a serious conflict
becomes greater and creator every
day. While the civil power contin,
ues On its present course, we do moi
see where it can stop short Of asserting
the absolute right Of the State to SCI
up or to put down any religion ii
pleases; and in these days ol free
speech and free thought pretenslon
oil that kind would be fatal to Any
party that should put it forth.
The doctrines of the Roman Cathol
ic Church are the same here that they
are IN Germany, and there Is no par
of the world in which the Pope la:
more devoted and uncompromisin.
adherents than in the United States
American bishops exercise freely the
authority which the Archbishop Posel
is sent to Jail for assuming, anc
priests may preach, say mass, teacl
anything they please, or eAcommuni
cate with bell, book, and candle, ano
our Government will never trouble
its head about them. They have nc
power except what they derive from
the free consent Of their parlshloner3
Their commands are binding only Oh
the consciences Of Their people. Ii
they are dangerous to the State, the
State has not found it out, and gets on
comfortably enough without religious
perplexities of any kind, onl Y taking
care that all denominations have fan
play and keep the peace. 1t seems tc
us that the mplest solution OF the
difficulty in Germany would be to
adopt the American principle OF a tree
| Church in q free State. Whatever
Americans may think about the doc
trines of Rome aud the assertions OF
the Syllabus, the German method OF
refuting them is repugnAnt to all oui
notions of liberty and equality.
70 mind Your business, YOU need
| | , , I,,lirn.c. anal - 9. uI,lI