The Mortara Case.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2987, 27 August 1888, Page 3

The Mortara Case.

Thirty years ago the world was greatly exercised about what was known as "tho Mortara C'aso." Edgar Mortara, a little Jewish hoy, was forcibly takon from his parents by order of the Archbishop of Bologna, to be educated in Oio Romish faith. The pretext was that the boy had beon

baptised, when an infant, by a Eoman Catholic maid soi->uut, and was there<v*s!re tlio property of tlic Church. As : tho' Cliurcli of Rome had temporal as well as spiritual power in Italy in iIA days she was able to hold fast iier captivity despite of the frantic protestations of his parents. The French Government urged tho restitution of the child, Sir Moses Montefiore went specially to .Rome on his behalf, the Archbishop of Canterbury and n whole host of the clergy and laity of England signed a protest against the action of tho Curia,'but all in vain. Littlo Mortara was taken from his people and their faith, and nothing was heard of him by the work until he turuep up the other dayay as Father Mortara, an ascetic monk in Spain, about whoso eloquent sermons the people of Madrid arc enthusiastic. He is also renowned for his learning, and is said to bo fauiilar with twenty-two languages!