Year: 1879

PROGRESS OF THE RELIGIo-PoLITIcAL sTRUa-


GLE-THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE NEW


EDUCATIONAL BILL.


The fight between the liberals and the clericals In
Belgium is. says correspondent of the London
Echo daily approaching nearer and nearer to the
critical point. This point the most severe stroke
which the liberals possibly deliver. is this break
ing of all further diplomatic relations with Papal
Rome by the recall of the Belgian representative at
the Vatican and the refusal to appoint q
The present Pope knows Belgium well. having lived
there as Nunco, and he breads the effect Of such
an alarming measure. which would be o
tional and official declaration that Belgium is
no longer in any sense q Roman Catholic State. 81
though the majority Of her individual citizens may
be Roman Catholics. This latter fact would bring to


light the most appalling side Of the business for the
Pope knows very we'll that the great majority of the
population-Roman Catholics though they are-go
heartily with the State aud do not go with the bish
ops 1t appears to be impossible to clear the Pope
from a certain degree of dubious action in the mat
ter. NJ. Frere Orban, the Minister. received some
sort of from the Vatican that it did not
approve Of the extreme position taken by the Bel
gian episcopate, and Leo Kill. At the
trouble to belaud the Belgian constitution as one
Roman Catholicism. Now. however. the Belgian
bishops profess to be able to produce Pspal brief
q sSsrs aoa
difference between the infallible judge OF truth
and morality and themselves: The liberal
il the Popes lieuenants can really bring effective
proof OF such q ouble-tongued proceeding on the
part of their master, the belgian government will
be compelled, out of respect for the nation and
for itself. break off all diplomatic relations with
the Vatican. He will probably bring forward
motion to that effect in the Parliament. NJ.
Goblet, member for Brussels, announced his in
tention of calling for alteration in the budget
by curtailing the incomes granted by the State
to tho Archbishop and bishops. the monetary aid
given to the episcopal seminaries, and the
contributions toward the building OF churches He
should also PROFOUND the abolition of the clause
which liberates the clergy from military service.
NJ Bara the Minister Of Justice, replied that such
proceeding was doubt quite justified by the
anti-national conduct of the clergy, but nevcrthe
less he could not think 1t advisable. The priests
wanted nothing much as to figure martyrs be-
fore ocks but real martyrs they could not be.
as, in tho event OF the budget for worship being
wholly suppressed. the clergy would draw all tho
larger sums. with all the moro case. from pious
old people. The money which tho nation gives.
said M. Bara. IL given for worship. not for poll
tics; II the clergy employ themselves almost
wholly with politics instead OF worship the
grant may be reduced by q reduction Of
tho far too large number Of clergy em-
ploycd and helped by tho State. Tho Minister
observed, with some irony. that the clergy will
have themselves to blame. They have cxcommu-
they have reduced small size the circle of
themselves to fulfil their Office. The coadjutors
have already received notice that their incomes will
not any longer be paid by tho State. Further
urcs will be taken at present. the government
refuses to believe that tho existing condition Of
hit,oa cau las ON