The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-11
An Order that VIII Further Increase
Suspicion on the Part of Many
PrOtestants.
THE POPE AND THE STATE
SUGGESTION FOR RELIEF OF CATH
OLIC CHURCH IN GUATEMALA.
Sees No Constitutional Rcason
ciaI Relations with Rome.

! important communication from Mgr. Sa-
! tolli to officials of Guatemala concerning
! that countrys following the course of
! Nicaragua in sending to Rome an envoy
| extraordinary and minister plenipctentiary.
! In the course of the document reference
| is made to the propriety under the United
| States Constitution of official relations be-
/! tween Washington and Rome and an inter-
| probation given of that feature of the Com
| stitution relative to the separation of church
| and state. Mgr. Satollrs letter was written
| while negotiations were pending about four
| months ago. 1t refers at length to diff
! cultes in church administration in Guate-
mala and suggests that certain changes de-
| sired by the government should be accom-
panied by an equivalent OF serious advan-
tage to render less burdensome the condi-
ton of the church in Guatemala. The doc
ument then says:
I'm the first place allow me TO reflect that
to re-establish diplomatic relations between
the Holy See and your government con-
cordat would not be necessary, but THAI
they could be re-established and maintained
without it, Besides, IL is well to reflect that
the Holy Father enjoys always In fact and
by International right the prerogatves of
sovereignty. In the second place the separa-
ton between the church and the state
sanctioned by the constitution excluded
the action of one power over another i'll
civil matters in regard to the church and
in religious matters in respect to the state,
tween the power and the other unless
by separation is meant the inevitable hos
tty or open , wrong nd or H., tne n,,nirtr Gy pg~e
also to the point to consider that many
nations although they have in their consti-
tutions the said principle of separation be-
tween state and church) maintain neverthe-
less amicable reports and relations with
the Holy See, and l can also add that al
though the Holy See has diplomatic re-
ports with the empires OF China and Japan,
It has certainly found no official obstacle
in ,oi,- flixrar Df
dition of the Catholic Church IN the Inlted
States, in whose Constitution was inserted
the article of separation OF the state from
any religious sect. cannot escape our con-
sideration | might almost say. our sense
of surprise IL up to date no official rela-
tions exist between the government ana
the Holy See it is because the great ma
ory of the population Sa ebrcb Is bere is attain
ing possibly greater development anu no
erty than in other states
Besides this direct reference to the onitea
States, it is said, that Mgr. Satollis argu-
ment as to the proprety of official relations
between Guatemala and Rome applies also
to the United States as he states that
the constitutional provision of both coun-
tries is the same respecting church and
state AS to the concern of the Pope Tor
the church in Central America, the docu-
ment SAYS:
II am happy 60 state that the Holy Fa-
ancient violent prejudices and oppositions TO
the church are daily disappearing. More
over, l must assure you OF the hvely y,eo eoii-
Germ of his Holiness TO the condition
of the Catholic Church in your state, the
great Importance of which in Central Amer
lea is we'll known, improved. Tnerefore,
the Holy Father regards as the greatest inn
portance, religious and civil. the good exist
aVerse to making ali sucA concessions as
may be compatible with the doctrine OF lhs
church. with m the %edare Of OF vour ne conntry
And, therefore his Holiness consents ,. 10
proceed to the nomination % OF an an apost95lie .5
administrator to the see OF Guatemaia VINO VINO
being a stranger to every faction, and with
out personal preoccupation, should put IN
order che religious affairs OF the vast arcn-
diocese which has been so many years
without it's urgent needs. The apostolic al,
ministrator should be European, selected
from among notable prelates or monks, anu
of tried piety and prudence; being sucn, ne
should more readily succeed IN ms dirncuit
mission
Speaking of the desrabiity of rendering
less burdensome the condition of the church
in Guatemala, Mgr. Satolli says
s'Apropcs of which allow me TO recall to
your consideration the numerous ,de, aeerees
TO 1884, and other dispositions UP to 1881;
DEGREES and dispositions OF law. more xor
less gravely prejudicial to religious liberty,
that the church, by divine right and almost,
1 may say, by the right of mankind tradi-
tionai for centuries has possessed always
and everywhere; DEGREES and laws that with
mature examination must be recognized as
exceptionaI possibly accounted for by tenn
porary circumstances, or that the govern
ment might secure itself against a supposed
Adversary which, unfortunately, the Catholic
Church in Guatemala in those times, was
believed to be; because otherwise II Would
be impossible to understand how such de-
crees and laws accord with the separation
of the church from the state honestly and
nationally considered. And therefore, with
the Constitution established as the immuta.
will not be difficult to become convinced that
the laws and DEGREES Teferrsd , 70 ,as,e, anose
of these laws and DEGREES there should be
some 'amicable adjustment with the Holy
would 1hus receive a most noble seal and
guaranty for the future through the desired
agreement between the government and the
HOLY See: an agreement that harmonizes
eycellently with the declared separation be-
tween the church and state, and an accord
population of Guatemala, that is for the
greater part Catholic.
The communication closes follows:
..I have believed il expedient to promise
the above expressed considerations, and
thus fulfil the duty imposed on me by the
HOLY see TO beg you to refer TO your govern
ment the Intentions of the Holy Father. and
his anxiety to improve, In a way the condi-
tions of the church in Guatemala. 10 sue
e. ed to the full satisfaction of your govern
rnent and to great advantage OF all the
republics, religious and civil. Finally. accept
the confidential communication that the gov
eminent of Nicaragua has already sent to
Rome MIR. DIR. Modesto Barrios, as its
d tentiary " TO the HOLY See for the purpose OF
initiating and completing with the greatest
expedition the good relations between the
same government and the Holy See hope
that your government OF Guatemala will
not allow much time TO pass before taking
the same resolution
1t Is said that this is the first time,
far as is known. that Mgr. Satolirs mission
has been extended outside of spiritual ques-
tions and has dealt with governmental sub
iects.
Cardinal GibboDs's Trip to Rome.
BALTIMORE. March 10.--Cardlnal Glib
bons will sail from New York for Rome
the first week in May. A light attack OF
influenza at present affects his Eminence
1t does not however. Interfere with the
performance of episcopal duties. To-day
his Eminence preached the sermon at sol
emn high mass in the Church OF the I'M
maculate Conception, and in the afternoon
IN the same church administered the rite
of confirmation to three hundred children
and adults. Cardinal Gibbons's sermon of
sunday last the Sacred Scriptures
careful synopsis of which WAS sent out, WAS
eulogized in the Methodist Episcopal Cons
ference by Rev A. Sanford Hunt and the
euloey was received with applause Tha