New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-30


single Austrian bishop or prinee-so-
bot who ever used his colossal revenues ~
tho furtherancc of some great religious,
pbilanthropc or literary enterprise IN oeua''
of his Church? In other words, the Austrian
Government simply uses its Catholic clergy aS
onc of its most powerful political InStfu
ments In Bohemia. Moravia and Silesla 'he
priest is used to oppose tho national aspira-
,ions Of the Czechs, in Carniola to hgh'
against the Liberal party. and IN the Itaua"
coastland against the "Irredents." Some even
Of the lower clergy have constitutionaiIy inc
right 10 sit in the political assemblies DuI
thev must not dare to take the moor against
the government Where the entire popuIh-
ton is Catholic. at least no religious conhIctS
take place. But the decentralization sets IN
when the Greek Orthodox and other churches
divide the field with Catholicism.
A Cowed Clergy
| What is the consequence? Where the
clergy is in the anti-nstional camp inc
Younger generation considers religion as the
arch-enemv Of the nation. The present war
/ brought the situation to n crisis. ANXIOUS 70
avoid fatal conflict, the Austro- Hungarian
/ government dared not press the question: Oh
patriotism with the non-German popula'loh'
At the critical moment Of the unloosing OF
the war dogs the state pampered clergy nay
70 submit to the behest Of the government
The city and village priest. often against ms
conviction had TO preach patriotic sermons
and spread caumnies and lies, thus often de-
/ Iiverinp innocent victims to the vengeance OF
civil tribunals and courts-martlal. woe 70
the pargon who had the courage to resist the
commands or innUendoes of his poNtcai
chiefs Let US not forget that even the Cath-
olc feryor Of old Francis Joseph, wno was
raised by a pious Catholic mother OF the oid
school. quickly took a back seat when the
higher interests of the state stood IN the way
/ He had at the time not only insisted upon
using his veto power to prevent Cardinal
Rampolla from occupying the Holy See, but
did not even deign to answer Pope Plus \
when the latter. during the critical July days
Of 1914. mplored him not to project Europe
/ into the bloody orgy.
Strange as the statement may seem to those
who are not acquainted with the situation, it
/ is nevertheless a fact that the Hapsburg dy-
nasty. so far as their Catholicism IS con-
cerned, discloses cynical pharisaism keeping
pace with the fact that Francis Joseph, the
! King of jerusalem" mad taken no pains to
prevent his allies the Sultan and the German
war lord, from prosecuting and annihilatinG
the Catholics of Palestine and the Catholic
Armenans. One million of Catholics, as duly
baptized as the late Hapsburg monarch him
/ self. have been assassinated with his conni-
vance.
/ The question now arises how far the dis
solution of this pseudo Catholic Austrian gov
eminent is liable to react upon the future
destinies of the Papacy.
Rome seems to feel the need of an Austria
as her political pivot in Europe. But>who
cannot see the ptiaole part the Hapsburg
monarchy will, in all probability, be con-
demned to play now that, with the victory of
Russian democracy and the war alliance of
the United States with the Entente, the Cen
trail Powers are doomed to gnominious de-
feat? What chances of freedom would there
remain for the Catholic Church in this poly
morpheus, half-ruined conglomeration Of
states?
Future Prospects
The friends of Austria in the Vatican con-
tend that the Hapsburg monarchy, even II
shorn of of the Italian "Irredenta,' Dali
malta, Bukowina, Pennsylvania and Eastern
Galicia in order to satisfy the territorial am
billions of Italy. Serbia, Rumania and Russia,
would still be powerful state of nearly 49,
100000 inhabitants, and the Church does not
hesitate to prefer this peaceful, homogene-
Gus. Catholic remnant" to the turbulent,
heterogeneous and heterodoX Austria in its
present configuration.
In such neutral state, having at last found
its political equilibrium, the clergy, it is
hoped, will no longer be used as a political
/ catspaw, and the Church will, for the first
time in Austria's history, occupy position Of
complete independence. so necessary for the
realization of its mission.
/ To conclude: It is the Austria of the Cath
Ollie people and not the Austria of the court
with its double headed eagle. which is worthy
Of the 5olicitude of the Vatican. Here Ben
edict XIV has the chance TO carry out the
great favorite scheme OF social salvation Of
his admired predecessor and master Leo
XIII. Anxious rs the Holy See must be 70
maintain a big Catholic nursery in the CEN
ire of the old continent, it should have no
| difficulty to see that the Allies have the right
to say TO Rome: an nostro signo Uinces,"
for the defeat of Austria connotes the victory
of Rome.