New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-05
THE NEW REPUBLIC.
CHURCH AND STATE.
DECLINE OF RELIGION IN BRAzII-NEoEssITY
FOR DIsEsTABIIsHING THE CHURCH -
THE FINANCE MINISTER'S VIEWS

THE FINANCE MINISTER'S VIEWS
A COMPROMISE PROBABLE
trRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRrBuSR.l
Rio December 30.
The church bells of Rio make great clangor
IN SUNDAYS If religion were thing Of sounding
brass, this great city would have cause to be
known as one of the centres of Christianity.
There is q iangling chime in the Lapa dos Merca-
aores. and there are bells great and small, harsh
and shril resembling from hill to hill and echo
Ing back from the outermost mountains Inc
Church is the Oldest of Brazilian institutions On
the CASTILLO there is church, once the cathedral
with portion of its walls as old as 1867. The
cornerstone of the Capella Imperial now the
cathedral was laid as far back as 1851 The
Candelaria, the largest and most costly church in
Rio has been under construction since 1878. Inc
crumbling church of the Franciscan friars on San
Antonio was begun in 1900, the Gloria, overlook
ing the harbor, was built in l714 and the Rosario
about the same time. Many of the monasteries
and converts, which are now practically aban-
doned under the operation of Imperial laws, date
back TO the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
The churches are not only of great antiquity, but
they have been built in the main by lay brother
hoods employed in works Of mercy. No other
South American city has so many hospitals ana
asylums in active operation. The Msericordla
alone cost Sl750,000 and accommodates ,2OO
patients. The lay confraternties have done ana
ore still doing q magnificent work OF mercy IN
Rio. and are imparting TO religion elements OF
practical philanthropy which command respect
and admiration. But old and useful as the Church
is and loud rs is the summons to the faithful
from beifry and tower this summer morning, re-
ligion seems TO have little vitality in the Bra
lillian capital II has lost its hold upon the in
felligent and educated classes. An American VINO
contrasts the lstless and perfunctory celebration
of mass in the churches here with the same re-
Iiqious service in New-York churches of that
faith is shocked and amazed. What is devotional
there is the most mechanical mummery here.
The priests have the appearance of worldly men
earning a good living in religious trade. The
very altar-boys as have watched them here,
seem 70 be cutting up pranks with unseemly
levity in the holy places
single Sunday in Rio will 60 far toward
convincing any thoughtful observer that one or
the best things that could happen for the Church
in Brazil would be the same rough shaking-up
which political institutions are receiving. L
write in no spirit of intolerance or hostility to
Roman Catholicism. 1t is the comparison wsich
j have made here and in other coast towns be-
tween the Church it is found in the United
States and in Brazil that compels the conclusion
tina. the abrogation of the establishment as
State religion would be of inestimable benefit
10 Christianity II the country has required thor
ough-g going processes of revolution, so has the
Church. The separation of Church and State
would tend powerfully TO promote revival OF
religion. Roman Catholicism is purest, strong
est and more active as religious force where
it is separated from the State, and where Protest
nntism is arrayed against it, as in the United
Il &c
where it is a State establishment. as in Brazil
and where Professionalism does not come into seri-
Gus rivalry with it. The most sincere Catholic
here would have reason for rejoicing if the Pro-
visional Government were to proclaim separation
of Church and State. There would then be signs
. of resurrection among these gilded tOmbs of re-
ligion.
There are eleven bishops IN Brazil with an
archbishop in Bahia. The salaries of the clergy
are paid from the State Treasury and subsidies
are granted to a few schools, seminaries and re-
ligious communities The budgets for public wor-
ship have included grants of S45o,000 year
for the payment of 1000 curates and the higher
clergy. This sum is only q small fraction OF the
revenues of the Church, and could easily be
spared The influence Of the clergy would be
largely increased if they were eXtricated from
. the embarrassing position Of ohceholders in the
civil service They are too often despSed by
Intelligent taxpayers as class of political mendi
cants, who insist upon soliciting State aid when
they have the means of making good living in
their own way. The cause of religion would
gain much and lose nothing if the revolutionary
processes were TO be extended to the Church.
There have been rumors in the air that the Pro-
Tisional Government is prepared 10 decree separa-
ton of Church and State, and that the Ministers
have voted in favor OF that policy. The Presi-
dent it is reported, is unwilling 10 sanction the
decree, and thereby to incur the hostility of the
clergy. lie is disposed 10 follow the example
of the Argentine Republic and other South Amer
lean republics, which have left Roman CathOl-
icism the established religion of the State 1t is
probable that a Compromise will be effected but
that result is not by any means certain. Several
members of the Ministry Atheists Compt-
lists, who do not desire any alliance between the
Republic and religion. The Secretary of War
holds strongly to this view and eXerts great in
f1uence in tie Ministry. The political results
OF disestabliShment cannot be easily or safely
determined, but The religious benefits can be con-
tidently affirmed The Church would be purified
and invigorated by separation from the State.
This was one of the questions which the Min
lister of Finance, Senior Barboza, discussed with
me in the course of long and interesting con-
yersation yesterday, TO which have referred in
another letter. lie admitted that the Ministry
had not decided what it would be best to do in
the matter but pointed out that other reforms
had been sanctioned. Civil marriage had been
authorized: complete religious liberation was TO
he enjoyed, and there were to be no religious
tests for candidates or oiliceholders. Mr"h, he
contended, had been done, and it might be de-
cided that haste was not eXpedient in separating
Church from State. IL may be, the Minister
added, that the salaries OF the clergy will be
paid while the present incumbents live, but that
no new stipends will be provided. This will
effect the desired result gradually and without
hardship TO aged clergy who cannot spare their
small salaries. This was hint that the new
Government is aiming TO abolish the Establish
ment in the same conservative spirit in which
the religious orders were voted out of existence,
he nllinnr that the