The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-13
ACCUSE
CARDINAL MERCER
Say He Used His Pricstly
Privileges to stir Up Anti
TcutOniSm.

BERLIN. via London. Feb. IA state
mcnt was issued to-day through the
semi-oficial Overseas News Agency
charging Cardinal MERCER. tho Primate
of Belgium. who was guaranteed safe
conduct for his present trip to and
from Rome by the German Government.
with using his priestly privileges for
purposes OF political agitation enbar-
ras,ing 20 Germany.
Tine statement further explains that
the letter written by the Belgian Bishor~
to the German e~piscopacy on November
"a. 1915. in regard To alleged atrocities
in Belgiuin was not received by Cardinal
Hartmann, Archbishop? Of Cologne, until
January Z. and hat consequently there
had not been a chance to answer 1t.
The statement follows
The Overseas News Agency Of Berlin
to-day made the following on
Cardinal MERCER
THE letter which Cardinal MERCER
and the Belgian Bishops addressed to the
German clergy on November -. 1915
concerning an inquiry INTO charges that
atrocities had been committed in Bel
GUM by Gcrinansl did not reach Car
dinal Won Hartmann. Archbishop 81 Coz
losne. until January I. which explains
why IL has not been answered. The gen.
eral impression prevailing in Germany,
however. is that the letter was inspired
entirely by Cardinal MERCER. Whose in
transigeant attitude toward the German
authorities became manifest on various
occasions.
Before the war Cardinal Mcr,I"r W.
an influential belgian politician For ~
d. ,,,l ~ tl. i'm. - KING I4aIpDll-
death he sided publicly with the party in
favor Of colonial expansion In the noto-
rious congo AFFAIR. demanding an in
crease in the Belgian army. After the
occupation Of Belgium by German forces
the Cardinal preserved a similar att
tude. using the influence Of the clergy
FOR agitation of a purely political nature.
AT the time of the great Anglo
French offensive the Cardinal ordered
that in all Belgian churches in the o'cu-
pied territory prayers be said for the
victory of the Entente forces. NJ the
same time on st. Michaels day he pub
lished a pastoral letter comparing the
present war with the struggle tween
ST. Michael. the patron saint of Brussels.
and Lucifer. suggesting in transparent
fashion that ne did not compare Ger
many with the angel.
in another pastoral 'etter tho 'arui-
nal said the Germans possessed no ltS'll-
| mate authority and had no claim to the
esteem Of B~elglaus, who owed affection
| and obedience only to their King.
During religious emo N ihH
fall Cardinal Merci'r declared to Be-
elan priests assembled in the Maine
Seminary that they were all obliged 10
offer the greatest possible resistance -
the Germans.
III competent German clrC.cs II -
pointed out hat In the appendix In the
letter OF the Belgian clergy. inspired by
: Cardinal MERCER, K is stated that an
Austrian priest made Investigations Ia
Belgium which had disastrous results
for Germany. However, Cardinal PIN,
Archbishop OF Vienna, declares publicly
and formally that Il" never authorized
auy priest to make such Investigations.
THE letter OF the Belgian Bishops also
! discusses the allegation that German
soldiers attacked Belgian nuns, I When
urged to investigate this charge Cardi-
| nal MERCER declined, on the ground that
he did not wish to hurt any ones feel
ings. But the Bishops OF Liegc, Nanllr.
Bruges and Client declared that no such
mlsdeeds had come to their knowledge.
AN this c~orroborates the German inn
pr,ssion that the liberties granted ttcel.
10 Cardinal MERCER in the interest OF his
exalted pries;ly vocation are being used
by him merely for pul poses OF political
agitation, which places the German au-
thoritics in an awkward position"