The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-12-23

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locution-cardinals Di Belmonte
and Pompili-The Congo Missions
Reception for Cardinal Bourne.
The victory of Alfonso Costa and his
followers at the elections has resulted,
as might have been expected, in a cor
responding change of front and the
Republic of Portugal is once more
arrayed against the Church without
question of compromise. The first
steps in the new fight against religion
in Portugal were taken this week
when the Archbishop of Guarda re-
ceived the decree of the Republican
authorities that they had exiled him
for two years from his Diocese on the
excuse that he had been found to be
plotting against the Republic. The
Bishop, who declined to obey this
order of the civil authorities, is to be
turned out of his episcopal palace il
The Bishop OF Portalegri is also in
dicted for refusing the stipend offered
him by the Republic and declining to
subscribe to the Separation Law, and
he, too, is to be evicted from his
palace, although the inhabitants show
signs of resenting any such action.
These activities have preceded the
trial of the unfortunate Royalists who
have been so unhappy as to fall into
the hands Of the Republic. The trials
which began this week are being held
in the refectory of the ancient con-
vent of the Franciscan Sisters, who
we're expelled at the time of the Revo-
luton. The first day was entirely
taken up with the case Of Jose Al
media, who was eventually condemned
to six years solitary confinement, a
form OF torture which usually ends
In insanity within six months, and
this was to be followed by ten years
banishment from Portugal Such are
the merciful DEGREES of the authori-
ties, more cruel than instant death,
which would, Of course; fix the eyes OF
the civilized world upon their doings
Missionaries Must Not Teach Re-
lioion.
Not content with this, the assem-.
bly, is now engaged in the formula
tion of law to control religion, as
they express it, in the Portuguese
colonies. It is simple and extremely
effective. 1t declares that all religious
opinions shall be respected and shall
be free from persecution and then it
goes on to say that the Portuguese
they at present enjoy and remain in
the possession of their several proper
ties even receiving a subsidy from
the Government provided they exclude
religion from their teaching! A mis-
sionary without religion is somewhat
of an anomaly even in these days
Other religions will be allowed to
practice their ritual and endeavour
to gain converts provided they do SC
in the Portuguese language. The bill
of which the above is the draft will
come before the Chamber very early
Monastery DespoiIed.
The Republic apparently finds its
vigilance paying game. They have
just discovered a secret Monastery
OF the Order OF the Holy Spirit al
Lisbon which, according to the re
ports of the authorities, is quite {
cosmopolitan affair, for it is composer
of French, Portuguese, Spanish, Ger
man and English Friars. This wa
Immediately suppressed, the militar,
breaking open the doors of the Mon
astery and arresting some fifty friar
of different nationalities whom the
dragged or to prison, during the night
using much brutality and heapins
them with indignities. They ais,
confiscated all the treasures of tn,
Monastery, including old paintings
tapestries and various richly jewelle.
vessels and adornments of the statues
The total value of this one haul Il
estimated at e150,000. Being unabl
to maltreat the foreign monks with
out having to reckon with their re
spective Governments the Republi
has decided to expeIl thems from th
country.
The Papal Ailocution.
For each and every nation of thos
represented amongst the newly eli
waited Princes of the Church. th
Father of Christendom had words {
encouragement and love. While /
linked England and Holland as tw
Protestant countries he did not see
to look upon the States as professedl
Protestant and the JOY with which b
had seen the triumphal journey (
your Cardinals across the Atlanti
under banner once sacred throug
the length and breadth of Christendol
was indeed a sOlace to those who hs