CHURCH AND STATE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 997, 27 May 1911, Page 3

CHURCH AND STATE.

STRIFE IN PORTUGAL

Lisbon, May 24

Cabinet Ministers and the Bishops are in active conflict in connection with the separation of Church and State. The Ministers are prosecuting the Bishops tor issuing protests, and have ordered the Civil Governors to take an inventory of the cathedrals and churches.

The Bill abolishing the Roman Catholic Church as the State religion of Portugal was published in Lisbon on April 20th. It abolishes all taxes paid by the people for the maintenance of the parish priests. Legacies for church services are forbidden. All religious ceremonies must be paid lor by clerical societies or brotherhoods, and one-third ol their present receipts is to be applied to public charities and relief funds. These societies will not be allowed to intervene in education, but may organise religious instruction.

All religious services must take place between sunrise and sunset under supervision of a State official. All edifices the property of the Church, furnished or unfurnished, are taken by the State, but permission to use the cathedrals, churches 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.

Five semiuaries for the priests are permitted. Pensions will be given to Portuguese priests who now hold office in cathedrals or parish churches. These pensions on death may pass to parents, widows and children. The professors and employees ot the seminaries and the books used will be chosen by the State. Papal bulls and bishops’ pastorals cannot be published without the Government’s permission.