The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-10-27

ever, refrain from observing that, while Our
spiritual power should erjoy the fullest liberty
on account of its Divine origin and super
natural destination, in order TO benefit human
society, liberty under the present state OF
things is so trammeled that the government of
the Universal Church has become extremely
d fiji cult. This is q matter of common nO'ori-
ETY., and js every day confirmed by new f,cts.
TIE solemn complaints formulated by our pre-
dcosssor, Plus TX, of h"ppy memory, in his
ne nttsworthy Cone'stof9l AlIoc1 sion of the 125h
March, 1877 mi sht be repeated by Us with the
addition of other grievous recita.s of obstsoies
placed in the way of the exercise Of Our
supreme power. We have not only to deplore,
like Oar itlustrious predecessor, the Guppres,
zion Of the religions orders, which dsprives the
Pontif of powerful aid in the Congregations
hca deal with the weightiest affairs of the
Church, not only have We to com plain that
from the celebration of Divine worship by the
law op military recruiting, which compe's
every one wit1oat dietinctinn of position to
take up arms; ard that We end tae clergy
hnve been deprive Of the control Of the oh ari-
table and benevolent iostitu tions founded in
Rome either by the Pontiffs or by the Catholic
nations, who placed them under the safeguard
Of the Church and not only are We constrsin-
cd to witness with immense bitterness of heart,
as Father and Shepherd. the progress of heresy
even in this very City Of Rome itself, the centre
of the Catholic religion where herettcal
churches and schools are built in great number
with perfect impunity,iand to see the perverso
which is their result, especially smongst he
YODG0, WHO are prUu6reu u LeaCnluS dit DS
lief; but. as if all this were not enough, au
attempt is being made to nnliify- the acts of
Our spirit 1al jurisdiction.
"It is well known to you, Sigaor Csrdinae,
that sft-r the occupation of 'me, in order to
tranquilize in some measure the couecenca of
Catholics who were serionsIy con cernsd for the
position of their Head. public and solemn de.
clsrations were made that the PoLtff would
b shops of the different Sc, in Italy.
Bat afterwards. under the pretext that
tue acts of their caGonical Institution
had not been submit ID 10 the piacet of
the Government, not, only the new
prelstes refused the pay ment of their revenues,
thus entaitug very heavy e1peuses on the
Holy See, which was Obliged to undeItlke
their msintenanoe. bit to the great disad van
tege Of the souls confied TO the care of the
Bishops, there was a repud diation of the validity
of the acts Of ep! !scopal Jurisdiction emnnating
from them, such as the nominations to the
parishes and other ecclesinstical appointments
And when, to obviate these grave evils, the
Apostolic Sac tolerated that the newly elected
Italian Bishops should present bulls OF their
nomination and institution accomplished &C.
cording to the canons, the state of the Church
did not become more tolerable on that account,
for, notwithstanding the presentation thus
exhcted, many of the Bishops were refused
their revenues, for invalid reasons and their
jurisdiction was persistently ignored. Those
who succeed in satisfying the requirements
see their demands s9nt from one flee to an
other, and suhj jected to protractsd delays.
Thus venerable men, distinguished for virtue
aods learuinR-in q word, considered worthy
by tie Pnntiff to occupy the highest ranks OF
the ecclesiastical hiersrchy-are compelled TO
submt to the humiliation of private and min
ute inquiries, which are ordinarily cobined to
ordinary or respected persons. Even the Ven
erable BROTHER who had been designated by Us
Perugia, although be had already been pro
posed to tive govern ment of another diocese,
where he was legally recognised, still vainly
awaits reply which he had long expected
1,y ha a of m nh t1fauasa the
Church is deprived with the left hand of ali
which, for political reasons, it was pretended
TO give Uith the right hand. III order to rem
der th is state of 6fAirs even Sill more grlev-
oua the rights Of Royal patronage were recent
ly pot for ward in q large number Of dioceees
in Italy, and that, too, wIta snch exaggerated
mes sures, that by a Judicial act they not only
contest -jnrIsdlction- of Oar Venerable
Brother, the Arcdbishop of Chieti, but also de-
clare his appointment null, and even refuse to
recogn'z, bis episcopal character. 1t is not
necessary for Us to show the little foundation
there is for those claims, even in the opinion
Of many of those who are Oar dVersarles. 1t
is merely enough for Us to recall that the
Apostolic See, whose duty it is to supply the
Bishops, was accustomed to accord the right
of patronage only to princes who bad we'll de-
served of the Church, by sustaining it's privl-
leges, supporting it's development, increasing
its pa:rimony; aad, on tIe contrary, those
who attack il by d!sputiDg it's privileges and
taking possession of its property, are rendered
thereby incapable, &C ;ordlnS to the canons OF
exercising the patronage. The facts whi n We
have thus indicated snow fully that it is the
int eution to continue in Italy increasing
sytt 3m of hottility against the Church, and
they manifest what sort of liberty is reserved
for it, and what kind of respect is to surround
the Head of the Catholic religion.
"in this dep'oTable state of affairs, Signor
Csrdinale, We are not unmndful of the sacred
duties imposed upon Us by Our Apostolic
Ministry, and with eyes raised to heaven and
soul supported 10y the certain hope Of Divine
succor, We shall eudeavor never to fail
in Oar duty. Aud ypp, whom Our confidence
has called on to take part in Our supreme
solioi iude, We pray, you t. bring. like your
predecessor, towards the accomplishment of
Our de gns the assistance of your s5esdfast
and in telligent activity, and rest assured that
Oar aid will never be wanting to you, In toe
meantime receive q pledge of Our special
afiecton the Apostolic Benediction, which We
give you from the bottom of Oor heart"
From the Vatican, 9th August, 1873.
LEO PIP. XIII.
DEATH or TIE SON OF PRESIDENT