The Irish standard., 1902-07-26
HATRED OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS.

| HATRED OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS.
Any Catholic student of current
events must be astonished in the pres.
encc of one striking fact. 1t is fact
moreover, which distinguishes our civ.
ilization from every one which has
preceded it, and is a thing wholly in,
eXplicable except on one hypothesis.
| This fact is that, in this age, there
appears an attack that is amost uni
versal on the Catholic religious or
ders, says the Buffalo Union and
| Times.
\ little analysis will show this true.
In France, according to the cable,
Premier Combes will begin the ghastly
labor of dissolving two thousand
houses belonging to the various Or
dcrs. Since the Law of Associations
contemplates the contiscation of the
property of the ORDERS as well as their
expulsion. we may expect confiscation
to follow in the near future.
In Germany, few weeks ago, there
began an agitation against the relig-
ious orders, backed alike by prominent
Socialists and Il number Of Lutheran
minister's 1t is well known that the
Jes,lits are prohibited by law from
entering the Fatherland.
In Italy there is a sporadic agita-
ton against the orders, partly arising
from Socialist opposition, but chiefly
from Masonic lodges. 1t is significant
that the goddess element in Italy, aid
cd and allotted by Jews and Protest
ants bitterly oppose the religious Or
dcrs
In Spain. disguise it how one may,
the peril of tlle orders is practically
as great as it is in France. Father
Felix Sarla V Salvany virtually con-
cedcs this in ReviSta Popular. The
young king is considered their foe.
Drastic measures against them are
believed on the point of being taken.
Another year will see great disorder.
In Portugal. up to Il few weeks ago,
a state of uproar existed. Converts
and momsteries were broken open or
burned to the ground. Monks and
nuns were stoned in the streets like
condemned feons The king stood
ready to sign an order banishing them
from the country. until the Catholic
Party sprang up and made such course
inalvisablc. 1t may be doubted, how
ever, if the volcano of goddess hatred
be extinct Whenever Spain eXplodes,
watch Portugal.
In England such journals as The
Rock and such agitators as the gentle
men composing the Protestant Asso-
citation are spreading venom against
the religious ortlers-the Jesuits es-
pcci,lly. If tile British courts did not
protect the latter they would be out
of England now. The coming of a
number of religious from France
seems to disturb such journals as the
Manchester Guardian and Leeds Nler-
cury-pcrllaps Otlers-from time to
time
While the religious orders exist in
Mexico. they aa'e not supposed to do
so by law. In Guatemala they are re-
pressed; in Brazil they are prosecuted;
| in Ecuador alNl other Latin American
countries they are not welcome. Adj
| ltiollal lands could Ike cited: is it not
a fact that o,m own government de
sires to drive the Catholic religious
out of the Philippines?
| 1t is impossible such worldwide per-
secution should exist without concert
ed action. There are deft links In this
chain that stretches through malhy
civilizations Cardinal CAsanas has
lately stated that it is the first horl
of Antichrst's universal Kulturlampf
1t so seems. indeed. Whatever may bt
the cause it is ut least Il fact that the
revolt against the orders was never
so widespread as 1t is now. May Goo
lead us through tho darkness to morn
ing!