New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-25
RapQk Indulgences.


The debate on the public safety law in
Sicily is likely to be long remem bered, not
only for itself, but for its consequences
One of the first consequences has been
the withdrawal of the deputies Of the
left en- masse from the Chamber, and it il
but too probable that we shall hear before
long Of awkward occurrences in Sicily
Another consequence has been the discussion
raised by Deputy Taiani's speech respect
ing the existence in Sicily Of papal bull,
called the Bull of Composition, by which
their penitents for the acts Of theft which
the latter may have committed, on eondi.
ton that the said penitents provide them
selves with the authorization of the Papal
bull and pay the sum therein required. The
Osseruat0re Romano the night before last
challenged Deputy Taiani to produce any
copy Of such document. Last night the
Gazette d'Italia published such copy, pre-.
facing it with the following remarks: "As
We have spoken on repeated occasions to
demonstrate its calamitous Importance,
We publish it second time for the
benefit Of those who may have forgotten
the previous publication. The bull which
we reproduce is copy of that Of 1865. and it
had q large share in the causes which i'm
PEELED Palermo to tho troubles Of 1866.
This bull is reproduced annually, and is
sold without scruple in all the cities and
villages Of Sicily, where agents are sent out
for the express purpose by the several Epic
copal curiat; it is affixed to the gates Of all
the churches, and especially to those hon
ored with the name Of Madrici: it is
authenticated by Episcopal seal aud by
the signatures Of the orcinaries and of the
Roman pontih. The people crowd every
year to buy it, the belief being artfully
instilled into them that its validity does not
extend beyond the year. They regard it as
a species of amulet or talisman, and make
the greatest sacrifices to obtain copy. In
Sicily you would find with difficulty a
home, especially among the poorer classes,
where the bull does not exist, and where it
is not kept as something sacred. To en-
large on the proofs of the existence and
authenticity would be more than super
tluOus, tho more that the Osserrato,e Ro-
mano declares that it has been published
for three centuries. The organ Of the Vatl
can seeks to represent it as not injurious,
but beneficent and holy, because in its nine
teen clauses, by each of which the duped con-
sciences are induced to commit crime with
the assurance of very easy indulgence,
there are expressly added artificial and ab-
surd restrictions only intended to evade
the provisions of the criminal code. The
Ga=etta alfalfa then gives the document.
IL bears the seal of the Apostles Peter and
Paul and the Papal arms. The copy given
bears the date of Palermo, October l6,
1865, After q somewhat long introduction,
protesting to furnish the rationale of the
bull, and the prices to be paid for the privi-
leges conceded by the same, we have in
nineteen clauses the cases in which com
pounding ia permitted, and in which, in
virtue Of this bull, those persons may COM
pound who shall have provided themselves
with the same, and have given the sums
aforesaid, which the confessOrs are en-
joined to apply to charitable purposes.
l. Compromising is allowed for evil gains
obtained and acquired illicitly or by usury
when the persons who have been injured,
and to whom restitution would be due, can
not be stated.
2. Compromising is allowed on the inter
est Of ecclesiastical benefces and rents,
when such debt has been incurred through
the neglect of reciting the canonical hours.
3. Compromising is allowed in the case
of legacies OF which the amount lie retained
by trustees who are unable to find the
legatees.
4. Compromising is allowed to judges OF
police magistrates. or assessors, who have
received money for the purpose of giving
an unjust sentence, or for the purpose OF
DELAYING D trial. to the damage of others
or who have done something else which they
ought not to have done, the SAID judges
compounding to the amount of the money
which they may have received from one OF
the parties. but holding them selves bound
to indemnify the person wrOpged.
5. Compromising is allowed to advocates
who have betrayed their trusts to theil
clients for money, the said money to be paid
to the church. with the obligation to inGem
Nifty the parties wronged
6. Compromising is allowed to false wit
nesses and false inforlners, or to those who
have neglected to inform when it was theis
duty.
7, Compromising is allowed TO all officers
of the law courts with the same condition
s. Compromising is allowed to all judges
both lay and ecclesiastical. in temporal
causes, who, even though they have given
Just sentence, have accepted money Tor 90
doing.
g. Compromising is allowed TO all attor
neys, notaries public and law officers who
are in the habit of taking exOrbilant fees
but have forgotten the persons from whom
they have taken them.
10. Compromising is allowed to those who
set at liberty criminals, and who receive
money for SO doing, payable to the church
the sum they.received.. and otherwise seek
ing to make amends.
IL. Compromising is allowed for sums OBJ
tanned for unfair gambling,
II. Compromising is allowed in the case
of those who assume false characters.
Ii Compromising is allowed where prop
erty has been found and the requisite dill
gence has not bren used to find the owner.
IA. Compromising is allowed in the case
of persons who have many articles belong
ing to others in their possession, and have
difficulty in determining the owners.
Is. Compromising is allowed for damage
done to the grain, flocks or herds, pastures.
vineyards or other property.
IS. Compromising is allowed to immoral
women, who are not public prostitutes,
when they have received money or jewels
for immoral purposes, and the same thing
applies to men similarly situated.
II. Compromising is allowed to tho vend-
Ors of adulterated wine with false measures,
in the case where the dealer in wines can
not recollect the parties to whom he has
sold it.
49, Compromising is allowed on all kind.
of illicit business or evil gains, whore usury
or unjust rewards. or in any other business
Or traffic. in cases where the parties com.
pounding have forgotten the names OF the
parties wrOnged.
The nineteenth clause is the declaration
of the apostolic cOmmissary that no other
form OF the bull, except tina, regularly
authenticated as above, shall have the due
validity.
The Ossrrra,o,e Romaao, in its defense OF
the bull, stated that it continued in full
force not only in Sicily. but in all parts OF
the world which had at any time been sub
ject to the Spanish crown. 1t must, there.
fore, be in full force in our military Deepen
dency Of Gibraltar. Let Mr.. WhalIey took
to it.
Lady Jane Franklin.
When Sir John Franklin set out On his
second Arctic expedition, in 1925, his first
wife. Eleanor Porden, lay mortally i'll. He
offered to delay his departure until her re-
covery. but she begged him to proceed on
his voyage and placed in his hands silk