The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-01-27


land-Pontifica Annual.
Matters are moving at very great
rate in Portugal, and it is possible that
the new administration has knocked a
nail into it's own coffin by it's violent
persecution of the three well-known
Bishops, the Patriarch of Lisbon and
the Bishops of Oporto and Guarda,
who have been exiled from their do
ceses for a period of two years be-
cause they refuse to accept the Sepa-
ration Law. The Bishops of Braga,
Evora, Coimbra, Bragance, Lamigo,
Portallegre, Algarve and Vizau have
addressed a collective letter of re-
monstrance to the President of the
Republic They claim under the con-
stitution of the Republic the necessa-
ry liberty of the Church. They point
out the impossibility of permitting
Government interference in ecclesias-
tical administration, and renew their
profession to endure poverty and
hardship in the service of religion,
preferring to refuse the Government
stipends than submit to an impossible
tyranny. At the same time they de-
mand in the name of liberty of con-
science, complete withdrawal of the
punishment unjustly inflicted on the
three Bishops.
The Patriarch of Lisbon was the
central figure in touching scene at
the Church of St. Vincent, where he
said Mass for the last time before
proceeding into exile, only five days
being given him to depart from his
episcopal palace. Thousands of per-
sons thronged around the Church
which was full of the faithful. After
the Mass the clergy approached the
Bishop to bid him farewell, and the
people pressed to the altar rails TO
kiss his ring and receive final bless
ing. When the crowds emerged into
the streets after moving ceremony,
great excitement prevailed amongst
the people and it was with difficulty
that a riot was quelled, the crowds
desiring to make for the residence OF
the Minister of Justice and express
their wrath in no uncertain terms.
Several carriages and motors were at
tackled in the belief that they con-
tanned government officials.
Sympathy of the Austrian Episcopate.
Meanwhile, the Patriarch had de-
parted for Gouveia where he proposes
to reside for the time being, but
where, it is understood, the persecu-
ton of the Republic will follow him.
He and the other exiled Bishops have
been consoled by many expressions of
sympathy and devotion from their
loyal clergy and from all classes OF
the faithful. In the name of the Arch
bishop and Bishops of Austria, His
Eminence Cardinal Skrbensky, Presi-
dent of the annual congress at Vien-
ma, has addressed to the Patriarch of
Lisbon and the Portuguese Episcopate
a very noble and strong letter of con-
ISOLATION for the sufferings of the
Church in Portugal. In no uncertain
language does the Prince Bishop ex-
press the feelings of himself and his
reverend confreres regarding the ac-
tions of the Republic. He says,
amongst other things, 'In truth who
can help detesting these laws inspired
by an inexplicable hatred of the Cath
olic faith, by which in hard and in
human manner these persons seek to
suppress the Religious Orders. They
gradually efface all vestiges of relig-
ion from civil life and violate the sa.
cred tie of marriage. They exclude
from public schools the teaching of
Christian doctrine and they hunt the
consecrated pastors from their Sees.
The Republic is furious at this
demonstration against its religious
policy by so powerful an Episcopate
as that of Austria, and partly in re.
venge, partly to frighten the already
rising populace into submission, if
possible, they have proceeded to vio-
lent measures at Vale de Cavallos in
the district of Cantaren. Here the
Prior and the landowners of Vale
have been arrested and hauled OFF to
prison on a charge of melting the peo.
pie who are intensely Catholic, many
of them being tenants of the Monas
terry, to rise against the Law of Sepa,
ration. Squads of the ne'er-do-wells
Of Lisbon-the loudest in their praise
of the Government and the most de
sirous of doing away with all religious
and moral restraint-have been draft
ed into the various towns of Portugal
in order to arrange fictitious demon
strations in company with the Social
lists and freethinkers already there
These demonstrations are loudly an
nounced now that secret arrange
ments have been completed. as taking
place all over the country to protest