Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-11-24
THAT REPORTED DNCRER
How II Would Affect Catholic Mom-
bers Of Secret Societies.

Madison. Nov, ~.
Madison Catholics who we're virtual.
ly accommodated some years ago be-
cause Of the papai decree forMddiug
them to belong to secret societies are
interested In the report that the ban
has been practically taken OF. The
decree reported TO be just issued from
Rome permitting tho lnterment OF
Roman Catholics In consecratod
ground though they belong to secret
societies, and particularly to the Ma
sonic order, Is considered to DO a.
sweeping as the original decree excom-
munlcating those who did not rcsign
from sucn orders and organizations
II nullifies the drastic decree Of seven
years ago, and 1t IL claimed will rec
oncile hundreds Of Roman Catholics TO
the church who were banned because
OF their afllliation with tho Free Ma
sons. It must be said, however, that
the Madison clergy know nothing OF
such decree. They would receive word
from Archbishop Katzer OF Milwaukee
who Is Inclined TO doubt the truth OF
the report.
Among many Roman Catholics the
decree, II isseud, means another tri-
nmph for tho liberal school OF
American Catholicism, In that the Ital.
Ian clerics who have hitherto con-
trolled affairs In the Vatican have ut
last recognized different condition In
the church In tho western hemisphere
than obtains In the continent OF Eu.
rope.
To the Roman Catholic tho new de-
cree IL just as sweeping as the one
which It virtually wipes out OF exist
cnce he new decree allows priest
to ofilciate at the burial and permits
the intermont OF a Roman Catholic
Mason or knight of pythlas In conse-
Grated ground. The only provision
made Is that the deceased must not
have been openly hostile to the church,
and that he must have expressed ut
some time, even II indirectly, will
ingness TO become reconciled TO the
church. This concession means every.
thing to the families OF the men who
thought II was consistent with their
faith TO belong to such orders. not
withstanding the original drastic de-
cree. II Is said II will heal many pain
full wounds and will have a great Of
feet In preventing bitter feeling and
dissenslon. II deceased Catholic
who belonged to n secret order may be
buried in consecrated ground, Il is con-
tended that tho church will open It's
doors to him before he dies and that
he will be no longer banned and re-
fused the rights OF the church, even
though he does not give up his mem
bership In the order to which lie be-
longs.
II Is said the continental clerics
have at last recognized the difference
between the Free Masons OF the con-
flnent and those OF the United States
and England. me Masonic oath In
the two latter countries does not I'm
ply antagonism TO the Roman Catholic
faith. The order Is beneficial and fra
ternai. II Is claimed that on the con-
tinent OF Europe, however, that the
Masonic order Ia honeycombed with
conspiracies against the church. When
the original decree was promulgated
bitter feelings were engendered be-
cause some pastors refused to allow
burial In consecrated ground and de-
clined to conduct Roman Catholic
ceremonies Mt the funerals OF those
who had belonged to the prescribed
orders. Other pastors, however, read
the decree differently and performed
the church burial services. The new
decree removes all dificulty in this d.
rection and oyercomes the scrupies OF
pastors who carried out the original
decree vigorously.