Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-28

The Governor General instead of answering the
Cardinals arguments found it easier to assert just as
he had done before, in the matter of the protest
against the arrest of officials that he declined to dis
cuss with his Eminence questions which had no direct
bearing ecclesiastical affairs.
The Cardinal justified himself by affirming that his
duty made it imperative for him to take practical IN
terest in both the physical and moral suerngs of his
flock. Since the Governor General wished to conhne
himself to strictly ecclesiastical matters in his rela
tions with the Cardinal the latter denounces
rous breaches of respect due to religion committed in
sundry places by German troops. He also complained
of the support given by the occupying power to the
campaign of calumny leveled against him by the "ac
twists" The latter publicly proclaimed that Flemish
prisoners in Germany had priests at their disposal
speaking their language, the blame must be laid on
the Cardinals shoulders AS matter of fact the lat
ter had since December, 1914, appealed to the German
Government for permission to send priests speaking
both the national languages to internment camps in
Germany
Archbishops House, Manes,
December II, 1917.
To His Exceency Baron Won Falkenhausen Governor
General Brussels.
Your Excellency-In your esteemed letter dated
November 20 you express the view that the subject
of my letter of 23rd ult. did not concern what you
call ecclesiastical affairs and is therefore outside my
province.
The Governor General would find neither in Ger
consent to limit his sphere of action to the precincts
of the church to the purely spiritual wants OF his
flock. The physical and moral suferings OF our peo-
pie are also, and any bishop failing to share
in them would betray his sacred trust Moreover, am
a Belgian citizen and it to my country to make
fitting use of whatever influence l possess on her
behalf. Should have noised abroad my grievances?
Or submitted them directly to the first authority in
the empire? But when laid them before the Coy
ernor General was that not paying homage to the high
position he holds midway between his Imperial Ma
jesty and occupied Belgium?
However that may be- your Excellency cannot
dispute the religious character of the two following
Incidents the first of which took place at Hainault
within the war zone while the second myself
personally.
On November ID last at Tournay, Mons, and in
number of important communes in Hainault, German
soldiers either themselves or through the instru-
mentality of Others opened certain tabernacles where
the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in our churches
and chapels while in places, l am told, they
even dared to lay hands on the sacred ciborum in
closed in the tabernacle These facts vouched for
by persons whom l believe to be sincere and we'll
informed. earnestly beg your EXcellency to invest
gate these matters and take the necessary steps to
prevent repetition of such sacrileges.
To come to the second of my complaints. For
some five months the activist newspapers have
been organizing a campaign OF calumny and outrage
against myself Personally treat it with contempt.
But there is one thing I must set my face against,
because by dint of repetition it might lead simple
minded folk to misconstrue the sentiments with which
am inspired in the carrying out of my pastoral
duties. These newspapers make me answerable for
the lack of bilingua Belgian confessors in both the
military and civil internment camps and in those
where the deported lodged. AS matter of fact,
your officials know quite we'll that have made re-
peated representations directly and indirectly both to
your predecessors and yourself, to put end to this
deplorable state of affairs, but in vain.
The action of the slanderers is all the more
cowardly because they know that the connivance of
your government insures impunity for them and de-
prives US of the means of defense. The most bare
faced among them, who signs himself DR.. Aug.
Borms is favorte of your administration and of the
Politische Abtelung The latest edition of his cal
umny is dated November 29 Can not realize that
| respect for truth and religion imposes duties upon
| you?
| Receive the expression of my sincere esteem
(Signed) D.J. CARDINAL MERCER,
| Archbishop of Malines.
CONTINUED TOMORROW