Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1888-05-05
IRELAND TROUBLED.
Catholics belonging TO the y. l.. dcbarred
from ubsOIuti0n.

from uDSOiutiOn.
Inc latest dispatches from Rome say
that the college of the holy office was
charged to examine Monsignor Persico's
reports, and decide whether Catholics be-
longing to the National League were
guilty Of sin and debarred from absolu-
ton. The congregation. the Pope pre-
siding, replied in the affirmative, and
drew up plea to that effect. Cardinal
Simeoni, acting under the Pope's orders,
forwarded the decree to Ireland, with
special Instructions to Monsignor Persico
and the Irish episcopacy, when instruct
ing the clergy to enforce this, to inform
them that they must refuse absolution to
any one declining to renouuce member
ship in the National League. 1t is fur
ther stated that neither the league nor
Its political aims are explicitly condemned
by the holy office, which confines itself
to declaring that the methods employed
are contrary TO the religious duties of
Catholics. The Pope approved the de-
cision without in any way entering into
the political questions pending between
England and Ireland. Archbishop
Walsh is still in Rome in compli-
ance with orders from the Vatican.
The following is the text of the papal
decree: ''On several occasions the apos-
tolic see has given the people of Ireland,
whom 1t has always regarded with special
benevolence, suitable admonitiuns and
advice when circumstances requ red, as
to how they might defend their rights
without injury to justice or public peace.
Our holy father, Leo XIII, fearing lest in
the species of warfare that has been in
troduced among the Irish in contests be-
tween landlords and tenants, and which
is commonly called the plan of cam
paign,' and in the kind of social inter
dict called 'boycotting,' arising from the
same contests, the true sense of justice
and charity might be perverted, ordered
the supreme congregation of the inquisi-
ton to subject the matter to serious aud
careful examination. Hence the follow
ing was proposed to their eminences, the
cardinals of that congregation: as it
permissible in disputes between landlords
and their tenants in Ireland, to use the
means known as the plan of campaign
and 'bOycotting.' After long and mature
deliberatiOn, their eminenccs unanimously
answered in the negative, and their deci-
sion was confirmed by the holy father.
The justice of this decision will be readi
lyseen by anyone who applies his mind to
consider that the rent agreed on by mu-
tual consent, cannot, without violation
of contract, be diminished at the mere
will of the tenant, especially when there
are tribunals appointed for settling such
controversies and reducing unjust rents
within bounds of fequity: after taking into
account the causes which diminish the
value of the land; neither can it be con-
sidered permissible that rents extorted
from tenants and deposited in the hands
of unknown persons, to the detriment of
land owners. Finally, it is contrary to
justice and charity to persecute, by social
interdict, those who are satisfied to pay
the reDts they agreed to pay, or those
who, in the exercise of their rights, take
vacant farms. 1t will, therefore, be your
lordship's duty, prudently, but cffectual-
ly, to advise and exhort the clergy and
lsity not TO transgress the bounds Of
Christian harity and justice while they
are striving for remedy for their dis
tresscd condition
CARDINAL MoNIco."