The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-10-20
PROPERTY OF TIE RELIGIOUS ORDERS
IN IT1LY.

1t will be remembered that one of the early
results of italian unity was the legislative
suppression of the Religions Orders through
out the Peninsula, aud when Rome was occu-
pied ia 1870 the same measure was extended
to the communities still remaining in the Eter-
nal City and the remnant of the Pontifical
States. The property belonging to the sup
pressed houses was sequessrated aud sold, often
at prices far below its value, and the proceeds
constitoted into fund out of the interest of
which the surviving members of the several
houses were to be maintained. Similar pro-
ceedings VI ere gu bsequently applied to various
kinds of property left by the piety of former
ages for "pious nses," and even to consider.
able portion of property directly devoted to
the maintenance of pubic worship and the
support of the ordinary ministers of religion
The fund constituted ont of the sale of these
latter descriptions of Charch property was
charged with assisting, and if necessary MAIN
tanning, poor and intirm clergymen, the sick
and helpless poor, etc. The capital of all those
funds was in every case declared to be the
property OF the State it was the interest only
which was to be employed for tho purposes in
dicated, and for them only. The administra-
tlon of the fund was entrusted to the Govern
ment, and Commission of niue-three Seps-
tors, three members elected by tie Chamber of
Deputies, and three nominated by the Govern
ment-was to control the management.
For come time past reports have been current
IN the Italian papers that the fund was being
mlsmsnaged, that there was deficit of sew
eral millions, and taat really no control was
exercised. 1t now appears that this story is
the following account, declaring that it pcs
sesSes absolutely certain information for what.
ever does not rest Gpon published parliament
ary documents The Commission of superyi.
sion has exercised it's functions for several
years only pro (orma, and left the entire man
| agement OF its enormous funds t } it's secretary
VINO was always one of the nominees of tbs
| government Every year formal report of
the proceedings of the Commission was com
munlcated to both Houses of the Legislature
| but no one seems to have ever taken The tron
| pie OF looking into 1t. at length one day it
| happened that Deputy made thorough ex-
animation OF one of the reports of the Com
| MISSION de observed that there were great
Irregularities IN the management of the fund
and he suspected that there was worse behind >
he called the attention of the Chamber to the
| nAIter' and the minister promised that it
should be thoroughly inquired into. The an
| 9ire meI VI course stopped all comment for the
| tlhe! ana 1t ID scarcely necessary to add moth
ing further was done. At the beginning of the
| last session, the three members of the Com
TIisslon mad to be elected by the Chamber of
UGyePutles' and among them a certain Signor
70 bena oSo was erected. This gentleman seems
serious, and he soon found out that he had to
ueal no6 Only with deficit of many Years
I9TanolhH' 9 ont with one steadily increasing
f'; 3 gave IN bis resignation, assigning this de-
the soon5, iss notVe' complete exposure of
uue scShoS! was now imminent; 90 friends
persuaded Merzario to withdraw his resigna.
| T, oh, ana ne was appointed secretary to the
commission. He was, however, too honest -
LIOugnG on IN this way. He set about
hinE an investigation, and soon satisfied
nItinsell ,Ii OF the existence of q deficit of over
"mg mstnohs of lire Gel 200 OOO)
me spettatore says " 1t is positively est All
nSiS tnaS q great portion of the subsidiea
PAlo out OF the funds went into Other no"i-ato
than the leRitimSts ones, It Vas Soe booHsSs S
sseEvlng members OF the RelIRious Cr5srs ~.
fase RFglstanca ls Iyas ;,ss 49, w