The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-28
me esrnaa Emperor On the Church in Germany
and Italy


We have already bad occasion to-men-
ton the belief that there was some connee-
tion between the visit of the German Em
peror 70 Milan and the new ecclesiastical
Iegislatlon which is in store for Italy. The
Emperor William and the Italian Prime
minister have now each of them thrown
some additional light upon their relations
With the Church. The Emperor gave au-
dlence at Milan to Marchese Pepoli-graud-
son OF Mnrat and therefore coasin OF Ma
Po!eon ILL.,, and married to a sister of
Prince Hohensollern- Sigmariugeu, SO that
ne was naturally employed as an interme-
diary between Paris and Berlin-and is
reported to have said that the friendship
between Germany and Italy was a strong
guarantee for peace for there were now
NO Alps between Rome aud Berlin and
oeiiicose proclivities would be restrained
by the knowledge of that fact. Moreover,
1t was unreasonable to reproach Germany
with the action taken at Berlin against the
Cit,amontanes, for "could Government
really be expected to acquiesce in the claims
or a party determined to defy the law ?
was 1t not incumbent on the Government
70 see the statues enforced f'-an argu-
ment which might have used, and probably
Inc real question is whether the new laws
complained of are just, and such as can in
conscience be obeyed-otberwise the
" party who defied tie law of King
Nebuchadnezzar, and the "party" who
resisted the edicis aboat the worship of the
roman Euperors, must be given up as
people determined to defy the law" and
generally out of court. But the Emperor
added that " latterly there seemed to
De certain inclination to recognize the
rIght and the power of the Government to
carry through the measures adopted" and
ne would be most happy to witness an
improvement in the present painful state
of things. OF the power of the Govern
ment as far as punishment goes there can be
no oooot, but its power to legislate for the
Church 8 internal government has certainly
oeEer been recognized, still less it's right.
Catholics, however, will undoubtedly not
pash their resistance further than con-
science absolutely requires, and If the EN-
peror's remarks meant that he had any
ldea whatever of meeting them even a
quarter of the way so much the better,
But the main purport of his little speech
was to insist on the impotence of Cath
ollcs, both in Germany and Italy, to re-
sist the State.
THE ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ON CHURCH
AND STATE IN ITALY.
Signor Minghetti is little more explicit.
Speaking at Cologne, in the Venetian pro-
vince, he eDdeavore6 first to remove the
idea that the Government had been con.
yerted to the policy of Prince Bismarck.
~ NNt~y vi ASo'S udu, H0 Salu, given rise
TO two fears, one for the peace of Europe,
the other for the freedom of the Papacy
Both have been proved unfounded by facts
and the visits of the Emperor of Germany
ana the Emperor of Austria have shown
that this view is now shared by the Co
Vernments and peoples of Europe" 1t is
no DOUBT perfectly true that the European
Governments do not think Italy ia going
to fight them, aud it may be true that they
think the Pope is free, but how this latter
point is proved by the Emperor eff Ger
many's visit we do not quite see, for it ia
not exactly clear that if the Pope were
less free than he is it would make 80 very
much difference to the Government of Ber.
lin. But, continues Signor Minghetti, as
to peoples thinking "tbat the Empe-
ror's visit to Milan may lead to our chang
ing eur ecclesiastical policy" that is a6-
solutely unfounded." " Our policy is based
upon the separation of Church and State,
no cause for altering it." "We have only -
here Signor Minghetti begins delicateIy
to show the point of the cloven foot" we
have only to see that the lower clergy are
protected from abuse of power on the part of
their ecclesiastical superiors, and to grant
the laity the right of interfering in the ad-
ministration of parochial affairs" and
Government will submit Bill on this sub
ject to Parliament, in conformity with
Clause ls of the Law on the Papal Guarap-
tees" We shall soon see what this Bill.
really is. whether it interferes with the leg
ltimste jurisdiction Of Bishops over their
clergy, and what the part in parochial ad-
m'nlstration given to the laity is to be. at
present the language ueed is but vague; it
may point to mere "conseil de fabriaue,"
or it may mean an election of the clergy by
the laity, and a consequent appointment Of
non Catholic and echismaticaI priests as in
Switzerland. The latter is much to be
feared y MI Gladstone 3 latest treatise is
IN support OF this device for "transform-
ing" the Church into a national sect. and
bis article has been translated into Italian
for publication in the Diritto
THE FIFcTrOSs ~ S~rr-.n,.,, ~,