The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-16
MATRIMONY OF PRIESTS.


From the New York World.
Rome, Jan. 13.-The Pope is contemplate
ing an order permitting the priests of the
Catholic Church to marry. The first step
has already been taken in the encyclical
20 the bishops of South America, in which
permission is given to the priests there 10
take wives unto themselves.
Mgr. Galleza, rector of the Spanish Col
lege in Rome, says that the concession
granted by the Holy Father to priests in
South America is to meet special condi-
tions.
81 do not think His Holiness viii issue
a general order releasing all the priests of
the church from their vows of celibacy,"
Mgr. Galleza continued. This question
of celibacy having been established by a
general council. think that only a gem
eral council would have authority to make
a change"
On the other hand Mgr. Toll, one of the
most eminent jurists Of the Vatican, IS
firmly convinced that the Pope purposes
to abolish the rule of celibaey for the
priesthood before he dies. Mgr. Toll
says
1.-THE day the Pope conceived the great
project of the union of the Christian
church he must have begun 10 examine
all the difficulties which might stand in
the way.
lone obstacle, perhaps the greatest Of
them ALL is that in all denominations ex-
cept the Roman church the priests aud
ministers are permitted to marry or not,
as they choose.
Obstacles Not InsurmOuntabIe.
II believe that after mature deliberation
the holy father has reached The convic-
ton that the obstacle is not insurmounta-
BILE / am convinced that ne will abolish
the enforced celibacy. of the clergy. l do
not believe that there will be a general
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 or
der affecting the priest of South Amer
lea is the beginning"
The familiar rumors of a reconcilia ton
between the vatican and the church in It.
ally have broken forth afresh but now
they have become more than mere ru-
mors, because there are significant facts.
The most important is the jubilee and
the opening of the Sacred Door of Sc Pc
ter.
Plus TX established the jubilee and the
holy year for 1915, but when that year
came the project was abandoned upon the
pretext that the Pope, being a prisoner,
cOuld not PRESIDE over a JuDlIee.
After mature elaboration Leo XIII pro-
claimed 1900 the holy year, and announc-
ed that he would personally open the Sa-
cred Door. Those whose opinion is author
itative declare that this action on the part
of his holiness can mean only one thing
the longedfor reconciliation.
Gotti for Reconciliation.
Cardinal Gotti, one of the most inAu-
entail members of the Sacred College, and
urged by Leo as his successor as Pope.
said:
"A reconciliation with Italy is not i'm
possible 1t would be as useful for the
Quirinal as for The vatican. In the pres
ence Of the dangers which menace the
Italian state, especially socialism. the Ro-
man Church would be a valuable ally"
Upon what conditions could the ALI
ance be made?" the cardinal was asked.
Il think that both sides would make con-
cessions" was his reply.
The jubilee viii be prolonged until the
end of the year, because the Pope holds
that the new century begins on Jan. 1 1901