CHURCH AND STATE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1137, 26 May 1911, Page 5

CHURCH AND STATE.

STRIFE IN PORTUGAL. By Telegraph—Press Aisociation-Ooryrielit Lisbon, May 21. Cabinet Ministers and the Bishops are in active conflict in connection with the separation of Church and State. The Ministers aro prosecuting the Bishops for issuing protests, and have ordered tho Civil Governors to tako an inventory of the cathedrals and churches. A BLOW TO THE VATICAN. The Bill abolishing the Roman Catholic Church as the State religion of Portugal wns published in Lisbon on April £0. It abolishes all taxes paid by the people for the maintenance of tho parish priests. Legacies for church services are forbidden. . All religious ceremonies must bo paid for by clerical societies or brotherhoods, and one-third of their present receipts is to bo applied to public charities and relief funds. 'J'hese societies will not bo allowed to intervene in education, but may organise religious instruction. All religious services must tako place between sunrise and jmnset under supervision of a State official. All edifices tho property of tho Church, furnished or unfurnished, are taken by the State, but permission to use the eathedrals, cliurchcs, and chapels for religious services will be granted gratuitously to the brotherhoods who pay for the services. Only Portuguese clergy who have taken orders in Portugal will be allowed to conduct such services.. Vive seminaries for (he priests are permitted. Pensions will bo Riven to Portufrurfo priests who now hold office in cathedrals or parish churches. These pensions on death may pass to parents, widows and children. The professors and employers of the seminaries and the books usrd will be chosen by tho Stale. Papal bulls and bishops' pastorals cannot be published without the Government's permission.