The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-23
CATHOLIC, ITALY.
fE.ondon rablet.l


chosen to administer the affairs of the
kingdom are becoming more and more CON
spicuous for the absence of all qualities en-
titiing them to respect, the PROOFS are every
day appearing palmer than ever that the
| country is Catholic at heart, and that the
great msjoTity of Italians are awakening
from apatbySsnd Misunderstanding unmistak-
able tokens of their devotion to Catholic
ism, and of their aversion from those revo
lutionary measures which aim at the ruin
of the Catholic Church. The Italian Par
lament, under the guidance of the present
Ministry, has voted by acclan alton the abo
lition of the religious formula which gave
sanctity to oaths in civil and criminal trials.
| 1t has voted in an overbearing manner
| almost regal honors to deceased patriot,
Asproni, who by his own confession, was
of no particular importance in his lifetime,
and whose chief merit in the eyes of the
Parliamentary majority seems to haze con :
sisted In the circumstance that he wac an
apostate priest, who refused even In HE
dying hours to make his peace vita the
upon pillaging the lay charitable founda-
tiona, and converting, that is to say, de
spelling, the asylums, hospitals, and in
firmaries, and the thousand confraternities
of laymen which were endowed by private
beuevolence in past ages. The same Gov
eminent is prepared to introduce into Italy
asystem of compulsory education by means
Of primary schools where the teachers shall
be aymen, and woman unfettered by any
vows of religion. In these schools religious
instruction is to be eliminated as far as pos
sible. Whatever religious instruction will
be Afforded will be of q neutral, cold, and
Ineffective kind, taught in perfunctory
manner by teachers who need,not them
selves believe in what they teach, and for
whose morality there will be no guarantee
provided. The priests and the nuns will
have no part in this scheme of goddess edu
cation, por will the chief pastors of the
Church possess authority or control over
the pupils or the teachers.
But at the same time the very men who
are determined thus to un-Christianize
their country are perfectly aware that the
real sentiments of the population are
against them. In recent discussion in
the Chamber of Deputies, Signor Toscanel-
Ii remarked that if universal suffrage were
granted the grist tax would be abolished.
He was interrupted by the Deputy Corbet-
ia, who asserted that if universal suffrage
were in use there would be Parlia-
ment Of priests in Montecitorio. Accord
ingly, the reason why the present Govern
ment opposes the extension of the franchise
is because the great majority of Italians
are Catholics. And the mode of argument
is similar in the case of liberty Of iDstruc-
ton. The Liberals will not allow the
schools to be free because the priests, friars,
and notably the Jesuits would open schools
for education of youth to which all the
children would flock, and thus the institu-
lions. of the Government would be alto
yether deserted. This ia tie argument put
forward in every variety of tone to meet
demand for liberty to teach, demand
which Is most honest, most reasonable, and
Of most important advantage TO the couu- |
;ry
Bat if universal suffrage cannot be
granted lest the priests should be elected
deputies, and sent to the Parliament TO re-
\ l.
cannot be conceded lest the Italians should |
choose to send their children to Catholic |
schools, is not all this plain, down right |
that TIE kingdom of Italy is |
Catholic and despises the 80 called Libe- |
'als, and loves in preferences the Pope, the |
pamphlet was lately printed at Naples, en-
titled, The Family, the State, the Church,
md School Free, Considerations By Carlo
Conestabile." The author Gays 60 The
State itself in it's present condition is per-
shaded that it has ranged against itself all
it would concede full liberty of
.eaching to the Church, ard leave the |
;hoice of schools tn tie family, in conf
fence that familiea v''uld select the State
schools in preference to tn ose of the |
Church" The sans writer gives his rea-
italy is arrayed against the State aud on
he side of the Church. The family, he
ays, Z" is Injured by the inordinate devel-
'pment of military institutions, it is irjur-
ID by excessive taxation, and ia injured by
he predominance assumed by the public
interest to the detriment and exclusion of
private interests and rights. And there
ore the family la driven instinctively to
lind itself to the Church as it's companion
n misfortune before the State. And the
tate fears to grant liberty to the Church
liberty would I'LL the Catholic schools, and
because it understands full we'll that sHfh
mpty the Government schools, giving
hereby scope for real and continuous
lebiscite, the consequence of which would
OF be long in manifesting themselves to
he disadvantage of the present regime"
What Siguor Constable says of domes
ic, may be repeated of political society. If
8 Deputy COrbetta asserts, the Govern
rent cannot grant universal suffrage for
Bar least priests should gain seats in Par ,
ament, it may be concluded that Italy, so ,
ar as the majority OF the inhabitants is
loves priests mere than Liberals
nd hopes moro from the honesty and skill I
the former than from the deceptive pro- l
aeaiona of the lptter IF rho alactjona |