The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-26

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men carry into execution. Once more.
we'll beloved Sons and Venerable Brothers,
do We protest before you against this pub
lie violation of the Concordat.
And We do the more severely blame
this outrage committed against the Church,
Teachings of the Faith, as published and
confirmed by the Rcumenical Council of
the Vatican, that is insidieusly put for
ward as the cause and the pretext of the
breaking of the Concordat and of the other
laws connected herewith. Those Catholic
dogmas are impiously styled novelties and
changes in the articles of the Faith and in
the constitution of the Church.
There may be few persons in the Aus
tran Empire who rejectthe Catholic Faith
for these unworthy inventions, but the
illustrious Monarch of that Empire, with
the whole of the Imperial Family, hold
and profess it; the immense majority of
the people hold and profess it, and it is
on such a people that laws are about to be
imposed which are based on inventions
such as these
Thus, without Our knowledge or con-
sent, the Convention which We had con-
Guided with the most noble Emperor, in
the interest of the salvation of souls and
for the advantage of the State, has been
torn up. A new form of right has been
put forward as pretext, and a new power
has been conferred on the civil govern
ment, in order to authorize it to put its
hand on things ecclesiastical, and to order
and arrange the affairs of the Church at
its own discretion.
With these projected laws, the way is
now open to bind with heavy chains and
to paralyse the inviolable liberty of the
Church in the tenure and administration
of her property for the salvation of souls,
for the government OF the faithful, for the
religious direction of the laity and of the
clergy, for the promotion of Christian life
toward evangelical perfection. Perversion
| of discipline is being introduced, favour is
shown to apostasy, sects are encouraged
to unite aud conspire under the protection
and safeguard of the laws against the true
doctrines of Christianity. -
In reality q great task would be incum-
bent upon Us were We to undertake to
| mention the nature and number of the
| evils which are to be apprehended SO soon
| as these laws shall come into force. But,
dear Sons and Venerable Brothers, it is
impossible that they can deceive you or
tions and benefices ecclesiastical, and even
the discharge of pastoral duties, are hereby
placed in such subsection to the secular
government, that the Prelates of the
Church-supposing that they submit them
selves to these new regulations (Which ID
be able to administer according to the salu-
tary regulations of the Church, those do
ceses for which they must render strict
account to God, but they would be COM
PEELED to discharge those duties aud eTen
to retain them at the dictation and arbi
trary will of those who are at the head o
the State.
Furthermore, what can be expected Of
those projects of law which are entitled:
Touching Religious Communities 7 Their
fatal bearing and their hostile intent are so
evident that no ono can misapprehend the
frrf hat y, fri aA n fro ,oI f,>r
the destruction and ruin of the Religious
Orders. Finally, the danger threatening
the total loss of their property is so great
as to be scarcely distinguishable from
public sale and squandering. Notably, the
Government will place all that landed
the regulations of the new act, aud will
assume the right and power of partitioning
the said property, letting it on lease, and
pairing it down by taxation until the misera
BILE income and benefit remaining from it
to the Religious will be with reason re-
garded, not as an honor to the Church, but
as a cloak to cover robbery and wrong.
Dear Sons and Venerable Brethren, as
the laws which the Chamber of Deputies of
the Austrian Reichsrath is now discussing
are framed with the intent and based on
the principles which We have now stated,
you doubtless see clearly the dangers that
now threaten the flock entrusted to your
watchfulness. Evidently, the unity and
peace of the Church are placed in hazard,
and men are striving to wrest from the
Church that liberty which Saint Thomas of
Canterbury we'll called the soul of the
Church, without which she has o strength
against those who endeavor to usurp the
possession of the sanctuary of God.
This expression has been explained by
another invincible defender of the same
liberty, Saint Anselm, in the following
terms:
"God loves nothing in this world SO
much as the liberty of the Church. Let
those who would rather tyrannze over the
Church than serve her, consider themselves
as without doubt the enemies of God. God
wills His Spouse to be free and not in SER
vitude."
This is why We stir up and cnkindle
your pastoral vigilance and the zeal with
which you are animated for the house of
the Lord, in order that you may struggle
to escape the danger that is approaching
you. Take great courage to sustain the
conflict in a manner worthy of your virtue.
We, on Our part, are assured that you
will Bot do less either in courage or in
81, L.