The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-09
The German Bishops and the Emperor.


The following is the full text of the pet
ition presented by the Catholic Bishops to
the Emperor William:-
"Most serene and most Nightly Emperor,
most Gracious Emperor, King and Sire-A
bill has been presented to both houses of
the Diet by your Imperial and Royal Majes-
tvs ministry, by which the further enjoy
ment of the State grants accorded to the
Catholic bishoprics will be made depend
emit upon the privious declaration of the
administrators of dioceses or the clergy,
that they will Internationally obey the
State laws. So unconditional declaration is
tian. Indeed the Apostles and innumerable
Christian martyrs suffered death rather
than sabmit to SGate laws and public or6in
ances which prohibited them FROM pro-
claiming the Divine truth or demanded on
their part denial of the Christian faith
We are, therefore, unable to give that de-
claratien without acting against our con-
science or Infringing upon the principles
of Christianity. Thus the attempt to force
US to obey by withholding material means
can never be regarded as admissible fem
a Christian stand point. Moreover, the Ve-
spectige grants from the State to the bish-
oprics in question are in compliance with
| legal obligation which the State under
took when 1t assumed possession of the
| secalarized church property in accordance
with explicit stipul atiOns. and, to quote the
wellknown words of a Prussian Minister,
they were undertaken under a pledge of
the honor of Prussia and, as regards otker
State grants to clergymen, they also by no
| means sPraDg from a mere liberality of the
State towards the Church, but have like
wise legal basis either in the seculariZ alton
of cloisterS and ecclesiastical institutions,
or in right of patronage, OF in Royal prom
| ises, and the suspension of these grants just
hn Of iAll
| serve to stir bitter feelings in the hearts
of the Catholics, since just now considerable
improvements of salary from the general
reveuue are granted by the State with
gracious lberality to the clergy of other
Christian denominations. " We feel, how
ever, the threatened suspension of the State
grants most painfully because it is express
" described as punishment for the att
tude of the Catholic bishops and clergy with
regard to the May Laws, although they are
unable to CO operate in the execution of
these laws without violating their most
the Catholic Church. We should fear to
trespass upon the venera&ion due to your
Majesty if we were even to consider the
supposition possible that it would respond
to the intentions of your Majesty to de-
mand such an in6delity aud violation of
duty on the part of the appointed guardians
of ecclesiastical order. We therefore do
not address ourselves to the Houses of the
Diet-wbere the proportion of Christian
feeling begins to vanish more and more
but address ourselves direct to your Mel
esty, as the protector of the Christian
Church recognized by Prussia-to the
Crown by which the Catholics have like
wise ever stood with loyalty during poiiti-
cal storms-the respects al prayer that your
Majesty will deny your sanction to the in
tended law, as being 8 violation of duty,
acquired rights, and a source of nnspeak-
able affection and peace disturbing con-
fusion.-In deepest reverence, With most
entire submission, we remain your MaJes-
tvs most humble, true, and obedient mere
follow the signatures), Fulda, 2ud April.
1875"