The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-06-24

matter which, concerning as 1t does |
the very constitution of holy orders, |
claims the special care of the Church:
We mean the discipline and training |
of young ecclesiastics. For 1t not only
compels ecclesiastical students to make
the literary and other studies which
precede theology in the public lyceums
where their faith is exposed to most
imminent danger on account Of the
hostility of such institutions to God
and the Church; but the Republic
thrusts itself even into the internal
life and management, arrogating to
itself the right of appointing the pro-
fessors, approving the textbooks, and
regulating the sacred studies of the
clerics. Thus the old practices of the
Regalists are revived, and if these
were most obnoxious and arrogant
while harmony reigned between
Church and State surely they are con-
Trajectory and out of all reason now
that the State wishes to have nothing
| to do with the Church.
| And what is to be said of the fact
that this law is especially designed
to corrupt the morals of the clergy and
provoke them to revolt against their
superiors? For it assigns certain pen
sions from the treasury to those who
are, by the authority of the Bishop,
ordered to abstain from performing
the sacred functions, and it confers
special benefits on priests who, mis-
erably unmindful of their offices, dare
to go through the form of marriage,
and, painful to relate, it extends the
same benefits to the surviving part
ners and offspring of such unions.
Finally, as if it were a little thing
that the Republic imposes yoke al
most of slavery on the despoiled
Church in Portugal, it endeavours by
all means in it's power, on the one
hand to tear it from the bosom of
Catholic unity and form the commun-
ion of the Roman Church, and, on the
other, to prevent the Apostolic See
from exercising it's authority and care
over the religious affairs of Portugal.
Thus by this law it is made illegal to
publish the commands even of the Ro-
man Pontiff without the permission of
the State. So too no priest is allowed
to exercise the sacred ministry who
has obtained academical degrees in
sacred science in any university
founded by Pontifical authority even
though he has made the course of the
ology at home. What the Republic
aims at in this is evident: to prevent
young clerics who wish to perfect and
complete themselves in the best stu.
dies from coming with this object to
Rome, the centre of the Catholic
: world, where they have better oppor
tunities than anywhere else to fill
their minds with the incorrupt truth
of Christian teaching and their hearts
with sincere affection and loyalty fol
the Apostolic See. These, then, to
omit other points equally fragrant, are
the chief heads of this iniquitous law
Therefore, the charge of Our Apo
stolic Office admonishing Us to defend
with all diligence the dignity and hon
our of religion against all this injus
tice and effrontery Of the enemies Of
God, and to uphold the sacred rights
of the Catholic Church, We, by Oul
Apostolic authority, stigmatize, con
denim and reject this law of separa
tion of the Portuguese Republic and
the Church, which despises God ant
repudiates the profession of Catho
q licism; which revokes the pacts sol
!. EMMY made between Portugal and tht
q Apostolic See, violating the law o
nature and of nations; which GUST:
. the Church from her perfectly JUS
!. possession of her property; which
h Expresses the liberty of the Church
9 and perverts her Divine constitution
o which, in fine, heaps insult and con
: tumely on the majesty of the Roman
4 Pontificate, on the Order of the Epis
8 copate, ON the Clergy and people o
: Portugal and consequently on all Cath
!. olics throughout the world. AM
= while We vehemently protest agains
n the proposing, passing and promulga
> ton of this law, and solemnly eS
q postulate with all who have deviset
= it or had share in it, We at the sam
o time decree and proclaim that every
q thing it contains against the inviola
q BILE rights of the Church is null AM
n void and to be regarded as SUCH
In truth these most difficult time
J. through which Portugal, after pub1icl
D. procfaiming war on religion, is pass
IS ing, fill Us with deep solicitude an
n sorrow. We grieve at the sight 0
4 all the evils which harass natio
70 very dear to Us; We are afflicted b
It the thought of the still more painfu
$, events that impend upon it unles
D. those in authority reflect seriously o.
IS the duties Of their position.
- But, Venerable Brothers, who GOV
: ern the Church in Portugal, your sui
: passing virtue, seconded so admirabl
!. by the zeal of your clergy, great
! consoles Us and fills Us with hop
: that, with the help of God, things wi
!. at last take better turn. For all 3
: you have remembered not your safet