, 1875-06-19
The Church in Spain.

II would be surprising If the relations of
the Holy Soc toward the New government of
Spain do not il the end prove injurious TO
Catholic interests all over the world. The
various nations are so enlightened by the
operations of the telegraph and newspapers,
they take so wide an interest in each other )
affairs, that it is impossible for the inhabi-
tants Of the United States 10 be insensible TO
what IS taking place in n country like Spain.
This more particularly because We have with
US exactly the same influence which j. now
have the eaPt2I tn, fi,fF23i, fF3if,F me san, We
dinances, the same discipline, the same
Pope Catholicism in Spain and Catholicism
in America are as much part Of the same
system as New York and Ohio are parts Of
our republican system The difference is that
in Spain the Catholic Church represents al
most without dissent the opinion of the
people, while in America it Is largely in
the minority. Therefore those who criticisa
the Catholic Church would naturally say that
we can better know what would be the effect
of the Catholic religion becoming the domi-
nant faith in this country by looking at what
is now taking place in Spain than by accept
ing the assurances of any of its prelates or
OCASAANNAS- We AAA1- lA41AtAoAtT t-4~AN N4AS
Catholic power in Spain is endeav0ring to
make the existence Of any other religion i'm
possible. The ambassador of the Holy See
has formally demanded that there shall be no
liberty Of conscience III Spain. In other
words, that because the Catholics have vir-
tual possession Of the country the effect of
their being in possession must render any
other religion impossible.
The Government has, as we see by recent
despatch, declined to assent to the demand of
the Papal Euncio, but has issued decree
aVowing Its intention Of :" doing Justice TO the
Church" In other words we suppose that
the King, feeling the pressure Of the Church
"A pressure NJ strong as TO be almost ire
sistable when It Is earnestly imposed offers
TO compromise, with the hope first, 10 satisfy
the demands OF the Church, and, second, out
of respect to the public opinion of Europe,
which would not be willing TO consent TO the
extinction OF liberty OF conscience. Hing
Alfonso is divided between two duties-the
allegiance be owes 10 the Pope as the head OF
the Church, and his obligation 10 Germany,
10 whose influence he largely owes his crown.
We do not venture to instruct infalllbilIsy,
but would it not be well for the Holy See
to regard religion and government as two
different things? Why should not the Pope
take comfort from what he sees in America
and in the republics of South America? Is It
not plain that the Catholic Church Is nowhere
- strong and free and tOurishing as III a
country like ours, where its priests mind
their own business and exercise no influence
over politics except what may be- represented
by their individual votes. Is there an ex-
ample of the Catholic or any Church becom-
ing an established part of the government
system which has not ended IN misfortune
The priests are open 10 temptations which do
not exist III America. Scandals fall npon the
Church by its interference III politics, III revO-
lutione, in public affairs. In Ireland We see
in nearly every mail some illustration OF this
truth. And, furthermore, the existence OF
this spirit among the ministers Of the Catholic
Church only invokes angry criticism from
other churches The time has passed when a
Richelieu or MaZarin can take counsel
from the Vatican and sway the destinies of a
people We have gone beyond that. The
Catholic Church will be higher, better, pnrer
and with greater influence when 1t Is utterly
divorced from every fOrn or semLiance OF
government. If it cannot exist III SPAN
without invoking the power Of the govern
ment to suppress other religions then lis
weakness is inherent; for when church
cannot flourish upon It's own foundation 1t i
u confession that it fails in the highest quail
ity Of religion.-N l. H1ala