, 1880-06-20

CATHOLIC OBEDIENCE TO TIE LAWS OF 1TALT-
Boston Advertiser.
The Holy 1nquisluon, Of which the Pope him
self is the prefect, has granted the tote'uff posse
to the Itn!ian Prelates the subject Of the
Royul placet and ereQuatur. In common English
this means that the curia proposes to obey the
laws of Italy. which sare made for the better
regulation Of the Bishops aud their temporal
affairs The law involved was issued June IS,
lS1l. the Government adding full regulations for
its proper administration. The subject deserves
some attention in this country, rs Catholic
writers have strange way Of pointing TO Italy
and other Catholic countries Us the ideal Of true
cccles1asucism. The sober truth is. TINT the
heads and leaders Of tho Roman Catholic Church
enjoy nowhere such liberties as they possess In
the United States, except possibly in some OF the
British colonies. In England Itself, With It's
State Church. the Catholics are non-confortn1sts
with uIi that the nane implies They nre not on
a level with tho Anglioans, while thoy arc the
absolute peers Of everybody elso IN this country
The law referred to supplements the fundh-
mentul guarantee act Of May 13. 1871, aud pro
vides that the acts and ordinances Of the Holy
sec on church properly aha 81 a[ oee "r sSet
tie e1e0tat,r.'' 1.-THE ordinances and ncts of
ordinary Bishops are subject TO the 11acet" Ac~
eorng to the ea and 5ns a9 Of
the Holy Seo, ind all decrces u1ld orders Of the
Bishops or their deputies, With tho exception
noctoJ with which there are established etnolti.
u.euts ct q legal character. Those III receipt OF
a document 'fr"m the Holy 500 cnnfert1nE a
1ry Of law, accompanied BY petition pon..,.5 an
stamped paper asking for the escQ.aat4tr'
without Which the aoou,hent me- cdse Is not IT. 'n m1
acts with the advice Of the stnto Coun-
mt,istry rctains the documcnts, save the netl
ton, whicl, is returned with the legend tpise
" the c11qebatur cannot be granted Those en-
until their title hus tho Royal ercflIdtur or T'Gc
Livlngs conferred by Bishop arc referred %.
the locul Town Attorney aud considered DY the
tor1ley reports tho case to tho Ministry Of Lawi
If it involves high place Or property or $nv9f
more, and whenever in BIS opinion m ne fts,t noy ft
date Of the ernq.at.r or 11acet the prelafes ana
clergy entitled 70 the temporalttiea ts, asid q
revenues Of osssi ;tb 10 ho casa % %aed g.
r. the laws Of tic State and the rights Of thit4f
pastiess o. W # any" Citizens hive the right Of peti-
These pctiuons are disposed Of by the proper:
functionuries on equity, petitioners and others,
having the right Of appeal to the courts OF AwA s
tlI church properly, except In Home, are tTeRfe<:
MS part Of the public domain, although nooos1yl
pretonds to believe that the kingd9m ever added e
q farthng to tho reld or personal property ox,
the Church. The property Of the churc6e5 N
ltaly originated very much as it docs now 10 tina!
country, except L1dI III IUTulef CfHtuIHa naIF1
icracies wore left to the Church. and that tho,
sccular rulers used to make liberal grant*.'
where at present they do the reverse. Besides
this, the Kingdom Is evidently unwilling ~ let
the Church enjoy autonomy. and it will not rot
crate Bishops, canons, and dignttasies ;s except
tion. Few Italian and Frcnch Bishops arc -ap-
pointed by the Pope, most Of them being elected
by chapters, accepted b. tho Pope. nnd apP1Dvoa'
b. Crown attorncya- The freedom enjoyed
by the Pope in mixing American appoint
ments is not known elsewhere. Mother the
thing like the rights which he 'exeT-
eses in the United States NoE ,. has. a'a ~ tne ne
affairs: but the time may come when the CHth~
oiic clergy Of Arnerics, viii wish to enjoy tshr
or degree Of ecclesiastical self-goyernmenf A.
present the priests have to obey the Bishops,
who ia turn are dependent on Rome. more par
tlcuIarly on the Propaganda An Italian bisnop
is not subject to the Propaganda, and WREN heta
duly installed be is largely autonOmtc: He. Is ia
Prince, an American Bishop ts a yassa1-
r