The record-union., 1895-03-11
Communication From Mgr. SatOlli
to Officers of Guatemala.
OFFICIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN
WASHINGTON AND ROME.
Eight Men Imprisoned in the Depths
of Mine in Colorado, Caused by
Fire Breaking Out-Snow Falling
All Over Nebraska-1here Was No
Damage to Stock, the Temperature
Being Hiph
snecial to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
Being High.

Ian i hANC1SCOs NIdICu 1Os - L IlNdL0
advices received here give an interesting
and important communication from Mgr.
Satolli to officers of Guatemala concern
ing that country's following the course of
Nicaragua in sending to Rome an envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipoten-
tlarv. In the course of the document
reference is made as to the propriety
under the United States Constitution of
official relations between Washington
and Rome, and an Interpretation given
TO that feature of the Constitution rela-
tive 10 the separation of church and state.
Mgr. SatollI's letter was written while
negotiations were pending about four
months ago. 1t refers at length to diff
culties 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.
The document says:
I'm the first place, to allow me to re-
fleet that to re-establish diplomatic reIa-
tions berween the Holy see and your
Government, 'COrdOrap would be nee
eSsary, but they could be re-established
and maintained without it. Besides it
is well 10 reflect that the holy father en-
Joys always, in fact, and by international
rights, the prerOgatives Of sovereignty.
In the second place, the separation be-
tween the church and State sanctioned
by the constltutIon) excluded the action
OF one power over another in civil matters
III regard to the church and in religious
matters in respect to the State, but does
not exclude official relations between one
power and the other, unless by separation
is meant the inevitable hostility or open
wrong OF the civil power towards the
church and its ministry. 1t is the point
to consider that any nation, although
they have in their constitutions the pYin-
cipal of separation between State and
church, may maintain, nevertheless,
amicabIe reports and relations with the
Holy See, and can also add that although
the Holy See has no diplomatic repre-
sentatiVes with the Empires OF China
and Japan, it has certainly found no olli-
cial obstacle in their diversity Of religion.
And the condition of the Catholic Church
in the United States, in whose ConstiUu-
ton was constituted the article OF the
separation of State from every religious
sect, cannot escape our consideration.
might almost say it would be sense OF
surprise If up 20 date no official relations
exist between the Government and the
Holy See, although the majority OF the
population is antl-CathoIlc. In the mean
time. the church is maintaining possibly
later development and liberty than III
other States"
Besides this direct reference to the
United States, it is said that Mgr. Satolli's
argument as 10 the propriety Of intluen-
tial relations between Guatemala and
Rome applies also to the United States. as
he states that the constitutional provision
OF both countries is the same respecting
church and State.
AS to the concern of the Pope for the
church in Central America, the docu-
ment says: II am happy TO state that
the holy father with much pleasure learns
that the ancient violent prejudices ana
opposiCions to the church are daily dis
appearing. Moreover, [ must assure you
Of the lively concern of his holiness to
see the condition of the Catholic Church
in your State, the great importance of
which in Central America is well known,
improved. Therefore, the holy father re-
CARDS as of the greatest Importance, reIig-
ious and civic, the good existence of
friendly relations. and he is not aYerse
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 holiness consents
to proceed TO the nomination OF an apos-
tOlic administration to the See of Guate-
mala. who, being stranger to every
faction, and without personal preoccupa-
ton, should put in order the religious
affairs ofthe vast tarchdiOceses which have
for SO many years been without its urgent
needs. The apostolic administrators
should be q European, selected from
among notable prelates or monks. and of
tried piety and prudence. Being such. |
ho should more readily succeed in his
difficult mission"
Speaking of the desirability of render
ing less burdensome the condition OF the !
church in Guatemala, Mgr. Satolli says:
"AprOpos OF which, allow me TO recall to |
your consideration the numerous DEGREES |
issued from the 18th OF December, 1871, !
up to 1854, and other dispositions up to |
1887. DEGREES and dispositions law more |
or less gravely prejudicial TO religious lib |
erty. The church by divine right. and al |
most, might say, by the right OF man
KIND, traditional for centuries, has DOS
sessed everywhere DEGREES and laws that |
with mature examination must be reCou- |
nIzed as exceptional, possibly accounted !
for temporary circumstances: or that the !
Government might secure itself against |
supposed adversaries, which unfor- |
tunately, the Catholic Church in GuaIe-
mala IN those times was DelieVe ed to be |
because otherwise 1t would be impossible !
to understand how such DEGREES and |
laws accord with the separation of the |
church from the Stale honestly and |
nationally considered. And, therefore. !
with the constitution established as to be |
ilnmutable itself in the republic of |
Guatemala, it will not be difficult to be- |
come convinced that the laws and de- !
crees referred to above should be at least
modified, or in the matter of these laws
and DEGREES there should be some ami !
cable adjustment with the HOLY See. |
The constitution and Government would |
thus receive most desired zeal and |
guarantee for the future through the de- |
sired agreement between the Govern |
ment and the Holy See, an agreement |
that harmonizes eXcellently with the de- |
clared separation between the church and |
State, and an accord that would bring !
peace to the souls of the population of |
Guatemala"