The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-12-10
cJYIL N1RRLAGE AND PRUSSLAN PRO.
TESTAN1S.
london Tablet, Nov. Is.l

IA (LOnd0n TaDlet, Nov IoD
The Csltarkampf, which was to have
overturned the Catholic Church in Prussia,
mas produced very important results,
Shough not exactly of the character intend
d Al .by its authors. Ii .has not made schis-
matics of the Prussian Catholics, but it is
fast demoraliziDg and Notwithstanding the
Prussian Protestdnts. 1t was hoped that
it would have loosed the bonds of unity
and discipline it has actually drawn them
closer. IL WAS to have separated the larry
from their pastors, or at least made tnem
TO their fate. 1t was 10 nave
not rid at once of the more stubborn ne"-
5ers of the clergy, and so terrlneo tne TO
nainder; a judicious mixture OF pressure
3 and tenn ptatiou might, it was thought, De
3krnated to comnlrts the work of subj 1ga-
hing them to the wishes or the Govern
8ment. The bishops had been always in
.inti innate relations aud on a friendly footing
with the civil authorities. They had al
ways been conspicuous for loyalty to The
reigping house, had readily acquiesced in
all ad uistrative changes, and had cheer
fully fallen in with every polit cal trans
formation-even with such revolution as
the annexation of Hanover and Nassau.
They would not now suddenly break loOse
from their habits of obedient CO operation,
or set an example of resistance to the law,
which might be made to look like al in:
element to unrullness. In any case the
combined detection of the laity and of the
CLERGY might be depended upon to over
come their reluctance or to render their
opposition nugatory. Vain hopes, which
could have stimulated only men who be-
lieved the Church to be really nothing
more than a merely human organization,
which must yield to solvents analogous to
the "bIood aod iron" that have proved so
potent when applied elsewh here. The
ilsity have neither revolted nor fallen away
from the faith and their pastors. Neither
H.:
Icoufiscation have been able to break down
the coDstancy of the clergy, or turn them
aside from the path of duty. The bishops
have edited the world by a noble example
kof consuancy and union, and consistency.
Never recedipg an inch from the principles
'pf conduct which they have always pro
fessed, they have shown how clearly they
ban distinguish the "thiDgs that ara
CasaI's" from "the things that are Gods"
And that while they are most ready to rem
der cheerful obedience to the State in all
temporal matters, they will not surrender
Those higher Interests which were entrust.
led to them by the Holy Ghost when they
were placed as Bishops to rule the Church
|of God. There have been some black
sheep, as was to be expected and the
Government have used every device to
cherish and multiply the "Oid Catholic"
sect. Reckoning the infants, they can only
M ster on paper a few thousands, while as
they amount to only a few bundreds.
What is this when contrasted with the
solid front tpresented by the eight nillion
aud a half Prussian Catholics7 Purified
and strengthened by the struggle through
which she is passing, the Catholic Church
in Prussia holds now frmer position than
she did a quarter of century ago. What
was designed as a poison has been for her
Ia moral tonic.
Bnt this same legislation which, like
|BaIaam's utterances, was deRigned to ruin,
and has proved a source of spiritual bless
ing for Catholics, has had most pernicious
results in other directions. 1t would be
'easy to show tEis by reference to the
changes respecting education; to the ex.
'pulsion of the Religious Orders and Con-
|gregatious; the exceptional legisla tiUn
regarding tue form alton of district congre-
cations, the management of ecclesiastical
aud charitable property, and the assumed
right to "depOse" refractory clerics, But
b patent instance is furnished by the work
Ing of the civil marriage law, which any
'One who can read must understand. Down
TO a couple of years ago the only marriages
legally recognized in Prussia were those
contracted according to the forms custo-
mary with the several religious denomina
tiOns. 10 1874 law for tue whole German
empire was passed by the Reicbstag, max
iDg civil marriage obligatory, and declaring
y alone to be legally valid. The pretexts
r this innovation were, the des!rability
securing au accurate statistical register
all marriages contracted between Ger
BAN subjects, and the Inconvenience in q
puntry 80 divided as to religion, of allow
hg PERSONS civil status to be dependent
pOn purely religious conditions, which
build not be the same for all. But, 10
futh, it was believed to be potent in
nstrument for working out that Catholic
isintegration which was aimed at. Hither-
all the canonicaI impediments and pre-
criptions were practically enforced by the
ivil law in the case of Catholics, even in
Prussia, because they had no other way of
cling legally married, except according to
he forms of their own Church, unless they
hose to become Protestants. But now all
bis was swept away. For civil marriage
w for the whole empire. pplicabie
Aually to Jews, PrOtestants, RatlODalists,
even Atheists, as well as Catholics, must
ecessariIy permit considerable latitude,
md wide departure from Catholic regula-
ions. 1t was expected that, in the first
4