GERMANY AND THE CHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 96, 27 February 1875, Page 8

GERMANY AND THE CHURCH.

On the fourth of December (says the 'Tablet'), during a debate in the Reichstag, Prince Bismarck disingenuously insinuated that the attempt on his life was the issue of Ultramontane ideas. No doubt such insinuations serve a purpose. The higher administrative positions will be "weeded" of good Catholic officers ; President JNordenflycht s dismissal being an example. The M»v statutes are being furiously enforced against the minor ecclesiastacal authorities, arrests and imprisonments taking place every day The " Association of the Apostolate of Prayer" has excited fresh wrath in the Government, for that Catholics should pray for their imprisoned pastors is an outrage on Rationalist decency. Of course, the " agitations," as they are called, are attributed to the influence of the Jesuits ; for though the Jesuits are expelled from Jt c S* v -? y ' ey Lave lef * their g° od teaching behind them, On the fifth of this month Prince Bismarck repudiated all pacific intentions towards the Church, and gave as his pretext that the Head of the Church " urged on his clergy to break the laws." He did not add that the only laws which were broken were those which were made against the Church.