New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-05

OF the clergy, and compelling the Papal authorities
under menace of discstablishment TO allow its
enforcement When the measure failed, he wrote
O book entitled "Celibao Clerical or Clerical
Celibacy, in defence Of his position, with many
detailed statements OF fact. The book was
burned by order of the ecclesiastical authorities
but q copy of it was found in village oil San
Paulo not long ago, and an edition OF 0,oOo
copies was Immediately reprinted. The immoral
ity which this devout Catholic Regent denounced
in his day still defles the influence of the Church
in Brazil Some Of the most active politicians
here are known to 10 be the sons OF priests
Cehbacy is too often only cloak fol-. immortality
here Good Catholics frankly tell you that
this is one of the open scandals OF their Chuich,
ard one among many causes of its diminished
influence and power over educated classes.
remember asking a Brazilian Republican
at Bahia whether the Church would
not openly resist separation from State
aThat will not matter he replied. Nobody
paws any attention to the priests in Brazil. Only
the ignorant and superstitious go to church.
The edrcated classes remain outside. They be-
lieve nothing" But will not the clergy object
to losing their salaries Pr asked. LET them
shift for themselves" was the contemptuous re-
ply They will be sure 10 get on very well.
They have no influence over intelligent people
That is the way in which Educated men are every
where talking about the clergy in Brazil. There
has been an alarming development of free thought
and atheism among the higher classes The
Church's influence has declined. immortality
among the priests is one of the causes OF that
decline. Something is needed in order 10 pro-
mote q revival of spiritual power among the
clergy The best men in Brazil freely admit the
necessity for radical reforms in the Church. fer-
haps the revolution will confer upon the Church
and upon religion the inestimable benefit OF
thorough reformation.
Under the Imperial Constitution the appoint
ments of bishops when made by the Pope were
confirmed by the Emperor. Practically the
Church was not interfered with, but theoretically
IL was subject to the highly centralized system OF
government here. Neither letters apostolic nor
any ecclesiastical statutes could be issued ana
carried into execution without the consent of the
Emperor or Of the General Assembly. These
powers while held in reserve were never en-
ployed against the Church. 1t is now an open
question whether the President of the Republic
can be vested with the same authority If the
Church remain under the present conditions OF
State support and establishment some safeguards
of law will have TO be furnished for keeping the
ecclesiastical powers under control of civil au-
thority.
This is time when there is real educational
work to be done in Brazil. nation is to be
trained for self-government and citizenship. Ola
things have passed away. New social ana
political conditions to be created. Inc
Church should have great parish this work OF
making nation. 1t should be breaking the
bonds of superstition, ignorance and mediaeval-
ism. II should be teaching men and women by
the example of its own clergy TO lead pure ana
incorrupt lives 1t should be leavening the whole
lump of Brazilian republicansm. If the Church
were disestabshed and the clergy purified ana
reformed it would be one of the grandest ana
most useful results of the revolution. For, IN
the long run, no nation in its political HE ana
aspirations can get above the level of the re-
ligion which it believes or affects to desplse.
F.