The sun., 1907-08-04
ITALYS ANTI-CLERICAL RAGE.
People Aroused by stories Against Monks
and Nuns.
Special Cable Despatch 10 The sus.

Special Cable Despatch 10 The Sus.
ROME, Aug. 3.-The Italian Liberal press
teens with detailed description Of the al
legged immortality and corruption Of the
religious educational institution and a
campaign in favor Of the suppression of
all converts and monasteries throughout
the country has been initiated Quite
recently so-oaled clerical scandal was
discovered by the Milan police. An old
woman who called herself a nun had a
home for destitute young girls in Milan
which turned out TO be a den OF iniauity.
IL was found that the children's earnings
were increased by means too horrible TO
relate.
The home was closed and the so-called
nun and her accomplices. two priests, were
arrested The Liberal papers blamed the
ecclesiastical authorities but These proved
that they had warned the police repeatedly
against the woman and her work. that they
had denied the sacraments to the woman
and protested against her and exposed
her home to no avail. The police. on the other
hand, protected and were in lea que with the
false nun. They even patronized her home.
Notwithstanding these we'll authenticated
facts the newspapers still persist in regard
ing the scandal as a religious one. with the
result tl!ag the anti-clerical feeling in Italy
has now almost reached climax. Meetings
Of protest are held everywhere and popular
feeling has been worked to such a pitch
that general belief prevails that all religious
institutions are identical with the false one
at Milan.
The calumnies recently printed against
monks and nuns are 80 loathsome and hor-
rible that they are not fit to be read. Still
not one bit of proof has been adduced to
show that they are based upon a particle
Of truth. II Is no exaggeration to say that
open acts Of violence against religious
communities are momentarily expected
and this may lead to their wholesale sup
preston by the Government.
1t is difficult to predict what may happen.
The French people were Indifferent in the
recent religious agitation there. Here the
situation is quite different, as popular feeling
I is hostile TO religion and the anti-clerical
parties are so well organized that if a move
ment against the Church once begins they
will not stop until they will try TO overthrow
religion and perhaps, attain church war
in Italy amounting to a revolution.
Despite the fact that the alleged irregu-
larities in the Catholic schools are still
improved insults against ecclesiastics con-
This morning the Abbe Perosi the famous
musical composer, while coming out of the
station was approached by an unidentified
person who spat in his face. Numerous
bystanders witnessed this occurrence, but
they did not interfere.
Cardinal Casseta was also hissed. The
French Able Maurey was also insulted.
He has threatened to appeal to his Ambas-
sador if the insults continue.
Reports continue to arrive from var
ious parts of the country of pub
lie disorders resulting from the ex-
posIre of monastic scandals. The most
serious incident happened at San Pier
d'Arena. a suburb of Genoa. where an anti
clerical mob besieged the Salesian college.
smashing the windows and doing other
damage.
The temper of the crowd was already
becoming savage when the inmates of the
college opened fire with revolvers, which
increased the fury of the sssailants. who
finally succeeded in breaking into the build
ing. when they set fire to il.