The herald., 1895-03-11
THE CHURCH AND THE STATE
Interesting Communication OF
Mgr. Sat0lli
A MESSENGER TO FRANCE
How the Republic Should Re-estabIish
Diplomatic Relations
The Breach Was Widened by the Actions Of
Officials in Guatemala-The Church
in Central America

| San Francisco, March 10.-Private adj
! vices received here give an interesting
and important commune alton from
Monsignor Satolli to officers Of Guatemala,
concerning that country's following the
course of Nicaragua in sending to Rome
| an envoy extraordinary and minister plen-
| ipotentiary. In the course of the docu-
ment reference is mad as to the propriety
under the United States Cons titution of
official relations between Washington and
Rome and an Interpretation given to that
feature of the Constitution relative to the
separation of church and state, the d ocu-
| ment says:
I'm the first place. to allow me to re-
fleet that to re-estalsh diplomatic rela-
tions between the Holy See and your
government concordat would not be nee
essary but that they could be re-establlsh-
ed and maintained without it. Besides it
is well to reflect that the Holy Father
enjoys always, in fact, and by interna-
tional right, the prerogatives of sovereign
ty. In the second place, the separation
between the church and the state (sanc-
itonediby the Constitution) excluded the
action of one power over another in civil
matters in regard to the church, and in
religious matters i'll respect to the state,
but does not exclude nor restrict relations
between the one power and the other I'M
less by separation is meant the inevitable
hostility or open wrong of the civil power
towards the church and it's ministry. 1t
is the point to consider that any nations
(although they have in their constitutions
the principle of separation between state
and church) maintained nevertheless ami
cable reports and relations with the Holy
See, and [ can also add that although the
Holy See has no diplomatic representa-
tives with the empires of China and ia
pan, it has certainly found no official
obstacle in their diversity of religion.
And the condition of the Catholic church
in the United States in whose Consttu
ton was constituted the article of the
separation of state from every religious
sect, cannot escape our consideration. L
night also say a sense of surprise if up
to date no official relations exist between
the Government and the Holy See and
although the maioritv of the population
is ti-Catholic. In the meantime the
church is maintaining possibly later de
velopments and liberty than in other
states
Mgr Satoll's letter was written while
negotiations were pending about four
months ago. 1t refers at length to difficult
ties in church administration in Guate-
mala, and suggests that certain changes
desired by the Government should be
accompanied by an equivalent OF serious
advantage to render less burdensome the
condition of the church in Guatemala.
AS to the concern OF the Pope for the
church in Central America the document
says:
~ am happy to state that the Holy
Father with much pleasure learns that
the ancient violent preiudices and opposi-
tions to the church are daily disappearing.
Moreover, | must assure you of the live
ly concern of His Holiness to see the con-
dition of the Catholic church in your
state, the great Importance of which in
Central America is well known, improved.
Therefore the Holy Father regards as of
the greatest importance. religious and
civil, the good existence of friendly rela-
tions, and he is not averse to making all
such concessions as may be compatible
with the doctrine of the church with the
welfare of the faithful and the prosperity
of your country. And therefore His Holt
ness consents to the nomination of an
apostolic administrator to the see OF
Guatemala, who, going stranger to every
faction and without personal preoccupa-
ton, should put in order the religious
affairs of the vast archdiocese, and
which has for so many years been without
its urgent needs. The apostolic admin
istrator should be an European, selected
from among notable prelates or monks,
and of tried piety and prudence. Being
SUCH he should more readily succeed in
his difficult mission.
Speaking of the desrability of render
ing less burdensome the condition of
church IN Guatemala, Mgr. Satolli says:
"Apropos of which, allow me to recall
to your consideration the numerous de-
crees issued from the 18th of December,
1871, up to 1894, and other dispositions
up to 1887, DEGREES and dispositions of
law more or less .gravely prejudicial to re-
ligious liberty, the church by divine right
and almost, | might say, by the right of
mankind traditional for centuries has
possessed everywhere DEGREES and laws
that with mature examination, must be
recognized as exceptional, possibly ac-
counted for temporary circumstances; or
that the Government might secure itself
against supposed adversaries which I'M
fortunately the Catholic Church in Guate-
mala in those times was believed to be,
because, otherwise, it would be impossi-
bic to understand how such decree and
laws accord with the separation of the
church from the state honesty and ration
ally considered. And therefore with the
constitution established as to be immu-
table itself, the Republic .of Guatemala,
it will not be difficult to become con-
WINGED that the laws and DEGREES referred
to above should be at least modified or in
the matter of these laws and DEGREES
there should be some amicable adjust
ment with the Holy See. The Constitu-
ton and Government would thus receive
most desired zeal and guarantee for the
future through the desired agreement
between the Government and the Holy
See; an agreement that harmonizes ex-
cellently with the declared separation be-
tween the church and state and an accord
that would bring peace to souls of the
population of Guatemala.
No More Races at Madison Park
st. Louis, March 10.-The announce
ment made by the Madison Park Associa-