Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-21
FRANCISCAN RESEARCH.
Peremptory Demands of the Vatican
Against Non-Catholic Scholars.

Rome Corr Of the London Chronicle.
The International Society of Franciscan
Research which held its inaugural congress
at Assist last month, has incurred the CEN
sures of the Vatican. Owing to the inClu-
sion of non-Catholic scholars among its
founders and promoters. and also
count of the patronage extended TO 1t by
government officials and members Of the
House of Savoy, the society became suspect
at the Vatican. Cardinal Rampolla for
warded list of questions to MonsignOr de
Persiis. bishop of Assist. whose see. form
ing part of the old papal states is imme-
diately subject to Rome The bishop, as in
Quisitor general in his diocese. was directed
to forward all procurable particulars Of the
individual Catholics connected with the
mysterious society," This he did dis
patching to the cardinal secretary of state
the dispositions of priests and others in
imical to the society, and who had not been
present at any Of its proceedings. The
Vatican authorities were Mortified to find a
number of leading Catholic clergymen as
ISOLATED with a society. a prominent men,
Der of which was NJ. Paul Sabatier whose
opus magnum on St Francis has been for
mally relegated to the index of prohibited
books. They were further Scandalized at
the fraternai relations thus established be
tween men of varying creeds. brought into
contact by common love for the spirit and
work of a Catholic saint.
Cardinal Rampolla thereupon sent a man.
date to Padre DALI Olio head of the Fran
ciscan order at Assist, ordering his imme-
date resignation from the society. Padre
Dali Olio. however. respectfully but firmly
declined to obey the behest Of one who had
no jurisdiction over him, and moreover. in
private and personal matter. Thus
thwarted, the cardinal directed Father
David Fleming. vicar general Of the Fran
ciscan order, to secure the Assist superior's
resignation, which was accordingly done
by taking advantage of the Franciscan VOW
OF implicit obedience. The bishop of Assist
was enjoined to secure the withdrawal of
the local clergy. DR.. Tampa. canan-theo-
Logan of the Assist diocese. was summoned
ad audlendum verbum, on account of the
salutatory telegram, which. as president
or the inaugural congress, he had dis
patched to the Dowager Queen Margherita
in acknowledgment of one received from his
majesty on that occasion. Canon Tampa
mas refused, upon principle, to withdraw
from the society. The same attitude has
been assumed by Dom Gregorio Frangipani,
.. S; B., prior of the Benedictines at Assist
Tina objects of the society are purely his
torical and scientific. They include % the
formation of great library of works on all
subjects allied with St. Francis life and
franciscan research: 90 the founding Of
duplicate international circulating library
or franciscan literature, 60 aid to Fran
clScan scholars and students in their visits
to Assist and "a the compilation and publ
cation OF 'codex diplomaticus'' of all
franciscan manuscripts extant in Europe
Mgr. Paul Macs, Roman Catholic bishop of
CoVinSton. United States Of America on his
recent visit to Assist, became a founder as
sociate; Mgr. Louis Duchesne, the his
torlan, holds similar rank. The Intervention
OF the Vatican has not resulted so far in
any Withdrawals Of Catholic or Franciscan
members in other countries nor even in
other parts of Italy.