The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-21
RELEASE OF BRAzTLIAN BISHOPS.
IN. Y. FrosmAn's Journal. Nov. lsl

m. Y. Freeman o Journal. Nov. H.
!, Late advices from Brazil furnish a6me par
Bishops. Mgr. Antonio dc Macedo, Bishop OF
Para, and Mgr. Vital de oliveira, Bishop Of
Olinda, who have been in prison for over
year, for having Published an inteFdiot against
certain religions Coufraternities which were
under the control of Freemasons. Our readers
will remember that these courageous Prelates
by Viscount de Lilo Branoo. Grand Orient of
the Brazilian Freemasons. This ministry went
out of power in the month of June last, and
has been replaced by Cabinet at the head of
which is the Duke de Caixas. The new Minis
try has shown itself, from the first, animated
by the most friendly sentiments towards Cath
olics; all the more So since complete change
| in favor of the prosecuted Bishops has taken
possession of the public mind.
Journals of every shade of thought clamered
for solution of this painful conflict The
Jornal do Commerce., the most important rep
| resentative of the Brazilian press, and whose
influence is considerable in the Empire, after
neutrality of two years, emerged from lie
accustomed reserve and began to give express
sion TO the sentiments of the majority of the
Braziians, in an article which we deem proper
to present to our readers:
sin well-informed political CIRCLES they speak
of the liberation of the imprisoned Bishops as
| a matter decided by the Ministry, after having
heard the entire Council of State, although
the pardon may be, in the present case, an act
of policy on the part of the moderating power.
Since it is an essentially political measure, 1t
is to be expected that the crown will not refuse
it's assent if the Ministers request it.
"Still, az o political measure, the pardon OF
the Bishops would have no meaning If it is not
extended to those of the Administrators of
Dioceses already condemned or only prosecuted.
| To embrace both these cases, the sovereign act
must not merely be a simple pardon, but it
must rather assume the appearance of an am-
| nesty. But is this measure opportune from o
political standpoint We would contradict
| all we have already had occasion to say upon
the manner of avoiding conflicts between the
Church and State if we did not frankly reply,
| Yes, it is. Assuredly the law Witness OF the
| trial of the Bishops is incontestable the
| highest tribunal of the land has recognized it
as such; but from q political point of view it
is no less true that these trials which followed
government had got itself into corner /;
| nothing was more reasonable than for it to
! seek some other means to exist. what Will DO
that meansf 1t is not in the character OF our
governments, when they have once resorted to
4 violent means, and found it Ruthless to have
recourse to other means still more violent. =,
Moreover peace and harmony, generally
follow an amnesty. The State will appear to
extend friendly hand to the Church, and the
latter csnnot refuse it. Thus everything
seems to indicate that recourse will be had to
not prove unavailing in restoring, harmony
| between the two powers The Bishops, once
restored to their focks, will commit no new
acts; they will not raise the interdlcts imme
diately, but we must hope that their prudence
will likewise direct them to do nothing more
to aggravate the situation. There will be
sort of armistice during which both parties
can come to terms. If We expect anything
from a mission to Rome, this is the only means
| of securing its success. We will not say that
the conflict which has broken out betEeen the
Church and the State has assumed alarming
proportions, since the Court of Rome has not
| interrupted its relations with us and the
majority of the Brazilian clergy has taken no
part in this conflict, but the course of events
could easily lead US to that result. May this
experience, then, be a lesson to us, and let US
endeavor to end the present conflict by taking
proper measures for the future"
It is said that this article, to which we
would take certain exceptions, is due to the
inspiration of Senior de Villanovs, the popul +
and well known Brazilian diplomatist, who
was then at Rio de Janeiro, and who Is propri-
etor of the formal de Commercio. Be it as it
has most effectually encouraged the Ministry
to carry out its good Intentions. Moreover, in
less than week after, (september 2oth,) the
Bishops came forth from their prisons