Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-01-15
ARE PRIESTS TO MARRY?

A dispatch from Rome says: The
Pope is contemplating an order per-
mitting the priests OF the Catholic
Church to marry. The fret step has
already been taken 10 the eHcyclical to
the Bishops of South America, in which
permission is given to the priests there
to take wives unto themselves.
Mgr. Gallezs, rector Of the Spanish
Co lege in Rome. says that the conces-
sion granted by the Holy Father to
priests in South America is to meet spe-
cisl conditions.
81 do not think the Pope will issue q
general order releasing all the priests
Of the church from their vows OF cell.
bacy," he said, and continued: "This
question OF celbacy having been estab-
lished by q general council, / think that
only a general council would have au-
ihority to make change"
On the other hand, Mgr. Toll, one OF
The most eminent jurists OF the Vati-
can, is firmly convinced that the Pope
purposes to abolish the rule OF celibacy
for the priesthood before he dies.
Mgr. rolli says: "The day the Pope
conceived the great project OF the
Christian Church he must have begun
TO examine all the difficulties which
might stand in the way.
"One obstacle, perhaps the greatest OF
them all, is that in all denominations
except the Roman church the priests
aud ministers are permitted to marry
or not as they choose, l believe that
after mature deliberation the Pope
has reached the conviction that the OBJ
stacles are not insurmountable.
81 am convinced that he will abolish
the enforced celibacy of the clergy. l
do not believe that there will be gen.
ersl encyclical affecting the Catholic
Church throughout the world. That
would be too revolutionary. But l
think the change will come about BY
degrees, and that his order affecting the
priests of South America is the begin
ming" -.
The familiar rumors OF q recOncilia-
ton between the vatican and the
church in Italy has broken forth afresh,
but now they have become more than
mere rumors, because there are signifi-
cant facts. The most important is tine
Jubilee and the opening of the sacred
door of st. Peters. ,
Plus TX established the jubilee and
the Holy Year for 1875, but when that
year came the project was abandoned
upon the pretezt that the Pope, being
a prisoner, could not preside over
Jubilee.
After mature deliberation Leo NH
proclaimed 1900 the Holy Year and an
nounced that he would personally open
the sacred door. Those whose opinion
is authoritative declare that this action
on ths part of the Pope can mean only
one thiug-the longed.for reconcilia-
ton.
Cardinal Gotti, one of the most ipflu-
entisl members of the Sacred College,
nd urged by Leo as HE successor as
Pope. said IA reconciliation with Italy
is not impossible. II would be az use :
ful for the Quirinal as for the Vatican
la the presence of the dangers which
menace the Italian State. especially 30
cislisu, the Roman Church would be a
valuable ally"
"Upon what conditions could the al
lance be made ?" the Cardinal was
asked.
II think that both sides would make
CONCESSIONS" was his reply. =.
The Jubilee will be prolonged until
the end OF the year, because the Pope
holds that the new century begins on
January l, 1901.