CHURCH AND STATE IN ITALY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1930, Page 2

CHURCH AND STATE IN ITALY

A CONFLICT RESOLVED. ADDRESS BY DR- MORKANE. CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. “The Holy See and the Italian Government since 1870” was the subject of an address to the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Historical Association last evening iby the Rev. Dr Morkane, of Mosgiel. Dr J. Eight, .rector of Canterbury College, presided over a large attendance. Dr Morkane dealt with the causes of the Roman question which had exercised such a great influence throughout the world, and to do so traced Uhe history of Church and State through the centuries. He instanced the growth of the temporal power of the Papacy through the acquisition of large tracts of land, stating that the dispute? between the P'apaey and the monarchy did not arise directly from this fact, but that otherwise the position might not have come about. Dr Morkane traced the rise and fall of the power of the Church at different times, and the disputes which arose between the different States ■> in Italy. NATIONAL AWAKENING. ‘ Immense difficulties stood in; the way of unification, he said, find the parties concerned were Very bitter against op@ another, There gradually came about an awakening of the national conscience until only Rome remained out of the union of the Italian States. The year 1904 definitely saw the turning point in, the relationship of the two big powers. In the November elections the Pope, by private instructions, allowed the participation of some Catholics in the elections, which up to then had been disallowed, and this wais extended in the following year. Then important changes came over the country, which were marked by the, spirit of nationalism. The “non expedit” order, restraining the people from participating in elections, was completely revoked after the Great War. ibis was marked by a revival of interest in religion. In 1920, a most important event took place, , when the Pope withdrew his opposition to the heads of Catholic States visiting Rome unless they came direct to him. This step was taken from the desire to further the interests of peace. In September, 1920, the fiftieth anniversary of the occupation of Rome was celebrated, and the event passed off quietly, which was a great change from the state of affairs obtaining prior to that, when on such occasions it was hardly safe to be on the streets, i where insults were freely hurled and conduct permitted that no other country would have tolerated for five minutes. This illustrated the change in the national outlook of the people. This spirit was more evident in 1921, ' WELDING EFFECT OF WAR. Free discussion revealed that the situation was changed by the Great War, and a rearrangement of ideas was ’ necessary. It was necessary to differentiate between the Roman question and the Italian question— -totally different aspects, The Catholic Eucharistic Conference held in Rome was a further step in the settlement of long-standing disputes. The people were becoming conscious of unity, while the parochial spirit had been burnt out in the fires of war. The war welded Italy into one unit, The States, which formerly had shown enmity among themselves, with totally different customs and outlooks and even different speeches, were fused into one people, imbued with the same ideas and struggling for the same ideals, No one recognised this spirit more quickly than did the Papacy. The movement was stimulated by the weak policy of the Governmen. Fasojsm became supreme; but then right on top of this came the doubt as "to the attitude of leader, Mussolini, to the Church. He had been antagonistic to the Church, but the first thing he ' realised wa* that a settlement of the , religions problem was paramount over all others. For four years he tried to woo the Vatican, but each attempt was met by strong opposition. In 1926 a series of conferences 'began. The temper of the nation was favourably disposed to the conferences, as was evidenced through the expressions of opinion in the newspapers. The solicitude of the Pope for a settlement became most apparent, and in 1926 there came the first signs of that settlement. By 1928 tbe preliminaries were complete, and in February, 1929, the treaty was signed, ending the disputes which bad lasted for sixty years. EFFECTS OF THE TREATY. The significance of the treaty could •not be over-estimated. First and foremost the people were free from the burden of divided allegiance. Mussolini himself had said that the peace would last because it was the result of three years’ long, difficult and delicate negotiations, and because the clauses had been patiently and wisely incorporated. It should not he approached from tho point of either optimism or of pessimism Victor Emanuel had set his seal to the treaty by his ri.sit to the Vatican some little time after the signatures had been attached. There were still clouds on the horizon, but the people had trust