Omaha daily bee., 1907-09-08
PRIESTS ARE STONED
Violence Used Against Church in
Anti-Clerical Riots.
CATHOLICS BEATEN IN ELECTION
Since Then Anarchy Has Prevailed in
Roman Council.
POPE SUsPENDS PILGR1MAGEs
Refuses to Permit Indignities Upon
Faithful Subjects.
FINANCIAL LOSS TO ITALIANS
Stream of Money Brought 10
Country by Visitors Checked
Various Opinions as TO
Cause.

ROME. Sept. 7.-(special. )-"Priest
Hunting in Rome" is the daily heading
in Roman newspaper, under which the
series of insults and outrages to the
priests in the streets of Rome are re-
lated The recrudescence OF anti-clerical-
ism, which began Immediately after the
recent municipal elections showed a ma
jority OF socialist voters has assumed
the character OF what Is described as
"a furious anti-clerical campaign" At
those elections, either through negligence
or timidlty, the Catholics in Rome were
badly defeated and since then a sort Of
anarchy has prevailed in the municipal
council and a vigorous campaign of false
charges against Catholic institutions and
their inmates has been carried on In the
thousand organs Of the press Then the
subversive elements Of the population. the
rowdies. the discontented. the young
men who have grown up without the in
fluences OF the church and those who arc
the product Of the non-Christian schools
rose up in protest against monks and
nuns, against priests and the pope and
the prime minister of italy, Signor
Giolitti, whom they accuse of furthering
Catholic interests.
Insults for PreIntes.
II is not possible to quote all the cases
of this nature which have occurred within
a few weeks Cardinal Cassetta and
other ecclesiastical dignitaries. passing
in their carriages to and from the Watt
can. were made the object of the vilest
language of the gutter. Monsignor
Dandini was struck with stone on the
ear. Monsignor Sanfermo just narrowly
escaped a large stone which grazed the
back of his head. Monsignor Lorenzo
Perosi the perpetual director of the
Sistine chapel choir. arriving in Rome
from Pracchia, was greeted by a black
guard who attempted to spit in his face;
and on the story continues from day
to day. The public authorities are GER
tainly weak in the suppression of these
acts and the government is accused of
neglect or tacit connivance.
The rumor that the pope would suspend
projected pilgrimages to Rome in conse-
quence OF the disturbed condition of minds
IN the city has become a certainty. His
holiness. according to the Osservatore Ro-
msno. taking account of the present very
sad conditions made to Catholics in Italy
by the outburst of anti-clericalism. and
knowing that the safety OF his children who
should desire TO come to him would not be
determination to suspend in the meantime
the pilgrimages appointed UP to the end
OF September. They are as follows: The
pilgrimage of Treviso. the diocese In which
the pope was born. was appointed to take
place from September 1 to September B.;
the French pilgrimage directed by Com
mendatore Harmel, was appointed for Sep
tember 8; that of the Cambrai diocese, di-
rected by Monsignor Delamaire, between
September and September q; the National
French pilgrimage, directed by Monsignor
Annette, coadjutor OF the archbishop of
Paris. arranged for September O, and.
finally, the pilgrimage from the diocese OF
Bergamo, which should be In Rome for
the end OF September,
Money side 20 Question.
Many other pllgrimages are already an
nounced, beginning with the first days of
October, among them being one from Pa
leVmo, one from the archdiocese OF West
minister and number OF others. For these
and for many others already announced
ana to be announced later the holy father
reserves to himself to deliberate according
as the conditions allow and according to
the circumstances of the time.
Setting aside the moral consequences Of
the csltcry raised against the priests and
institutions OF education. and the Catholic
church, and the political consequences.
which ave likely to be detrimental to the
existing form of government. there are
serious economic questions involved in this
anti-clerical campaign. Italy for several
years past has derived a very consider
able share Of its ready money from tour
lists and pilgrimS. The latter come in
thousands during the years that are spe-
cially marked out. They SOW money on
their way. and the greatest harvest is
reaped at Rome. where anti-cericalism
nourishes unchecked.
From precise calculations made, the
"Corriere d'Italia" has reason 10 state that
the number registered 10 make the pill
grimage TO Rome up TO the present time Is
$4,000. Now. since the pilgrimages. as is
we'll known. ordinarily last eight days. It
is a question then of 4S2 coo days nourish-
ment Now. taking also In account that
part OF these tnormally one-thb1d) are re-
ceived in refugees depending on the Vati-
can. IT is not an exagBeration to calculate
the expenses Of these az francs a. day
the economic benefit which they win leave
in Rome-and 10 francs a day for the
others. There is then, II all the pilgrim
ages should be suppressed. total loss tpr
the shop keepers and working classes NJ
Rome OF $4,000 francs. or Se62, 100 That
Is a high price to pay for the dubious de-
ight OF hunting a few clergymen.
According TO the journal, la Correspon-
denEa Romano, the political purposes OF the
movement are similar failures. This jour
nal declares that the present anti-clerical
campaign in Italy is sustained with money
from France.
The Italian newspapers may well claim
the distinction of having done their worst
10 produce a religious war in this land.
Columns upon columns of vile stories are
published which have absolutely no foun-
dation except in the minds OF the anti
clericals.