The new North-west., 1888-05-04
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC cHuRc cH SPEAKS
"Boycotting" and "The Plan of Campaign Put
Under Ban of the Church.


text of the Papal decree: "On everal occa-
sions the Apostolic See has give b the people
of ireland, whom it has alway rs regarded
with special benevolence, suit able admo.
milton and advice when the ci circumstances
required as to how they might defend their
rights without injury to justice . r the public
peace. Our holy father, Leo Kill, fearing
lest he inspire the warfare that has been
introduced among the Irish in contests be-
tw cen the landlords and tenants, and which
is commonly called the "Plan of Campaign" !"
and in \ kind of social interdlct, called
'Boycotting,' arising from the same contest,
true sense Of justice and charity might be
pre- revented, ordered the supreme congrega-
tion of the inquisition to subject the matter
| to serious and careful examinati pn. Hence
the following was proposed: Their emf
nences, the cardinals of that congregation,
were TO End if it were permis sable in the
dispute between the landlords aud their
tenants in Ireland to use the means known
as the "Plan Of Campaign and "Boycott-
ing" After long and mature deliberation
their eminences unanimously answered in
the negative, and their decision was con-
6rmed by the Holy Father on Wednesday,
the 18th of the present month. The justice
of the decision will be readily seen by any
one who applies his mind to consider that
the rent agreed upon by mutual consent
cannot, without violation of the contract,
be diminished at the mere will of the ten
ant, especially when there are tribunals
appointed for settling such controversies
and reducing unjust rents within the bounds
Of equity, after taking into account the
causes which diminish the value of the
land. Neither can it be considered per-
missable that rents can be extorted from
tenants and deposited in the hands of IN
known persons to the detriment of land
own ners. Finally, it is contrary to justice
and charity to prosecute by social interdict
those who are satisfied to pay or those who
in the exercise Of their rights take vacant
farms. It will, therefore, be your lordship's
duty, prudently but effectualIy to advise aad
exho TT the clergy and laity not to transgress
the bounds Of christian charity and justice
while they are striving for remedy for their
distr ressed condition. (Signed),
r. CARDINAL MONACO,
Ro me, April 20.
LoN oNDoN, April 30.-A dispatch from
Rom says the college of the holy Office was
charged to examine Manager Persico's re-
ports and to ascertain whether Catholics be-
longing to the National league were guilty of
sin and would be debarred from absolution.
The congregation, the pope presidip g, replied |
in the Affirmative and drew up decree to
that effect. Cardinal Simeone, acting under |
the pope's orders, forwarded the decree to !
Ireland with special instructions to Mgr. |
Persico and the Irish Episcopacy instructing
the clergy to enforce it, and info rm them |
that they must refuse absoluLion to any one |
declining to renounce membership in the |
National league. 1t is further stated that
neither the league nor political aim S are ex.
plicity condemned by the holy Office, which
confines itself to declaring that the methods
employed are contrary to the relig,o us duties
Of Catholics. The pope approved the de.
cision without in any way entiring into the
political questions pending between England
and Ireland. Archbishop Walsh is still in
Rome in compliance with orders Fl ON the
vatican.
A meeting, composed of Irish4en and
Englishmen, held at Aldershot, con demned
he pope's decree and resolved to found Z
branch Of the home rule organizatio u, and
o cease contributing Peters pence.