The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 23 March 1911, Page 543

The Catholic World

BELGlUM — University Students Mr. William E. Curtis, who is writing a series of travel letters, finds that Catholic Belgium ‘ has the largest number of university students in comparison to its population of any European country, the latest returns showing 82 for every 100,000 inhabitants. Norway comes next with 77, Germany 57, Austria 56, Italy 51, France 43, England 32, and Russia 10. There is no way of ascertaining the ratio in the United States, because there is no university standard.’ ENGLAND — An Appointment The Catholic V eddy is officially informed that Rev. Father Thomas George, D.D., of St. Joseph’s College, Upholland, Wigan, has been appointed as Vice-rector of the Collegio Beda, Rome, in succession to Monsignor Butt, who will shortly be consecrated Bishop of Cambysopolis. FRANCE — An Abbe Vindicated Justice for Catholics varies in France, according to the milieu in which it is administered (remarks the Universe). As a set-off against the fine of 600 francs inflicted upon Cardinal Lucon, two French newspapers—the notoriously anti-religious Depeche de Toulouse, and the Petit Meridional of Montpellier, have both been condemned for libelling the Abbe Santol. Each has to pay 500 francs damages, a fine of 100 francs, and is obliged to publish a retractation in three issues at the estimated cost of 150 francs each. A severe rebuff like this, together with the condemnations passed upon various anticlerical papers by Bishops, may have a wholesome effect upon the violence of the ‘bad press’ in France. At all events, the editors who affect to despise the episcopal censures, may prove more sensitive about their balance-sheets. GERMANY Centre Party In January was celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the formation of the German Centre Party. The party’s newspapers record the fact with gratification, and gather from it new courage in face of the new and important problems of the future. The Centre originated in Berlin in a moment when the German Catholics wore overwhelmed with storms and difficulty. In June, 1870 Peter Reichensperger published in ’ the columns of the Cologne Volkszeitung an appeal to German Catholics urging the formation of a party and the adoption of a settled programme. On June 29, 1870, there was held at Essen the annual Congress of the Catholic Associations of the Rhine and Westphalia, and the assembly pronounced itself .fully in accord with the views of Reichenspergor. On October 28, . 1870, the General Congress of the Catholics of Westphalia formulated a complete programme for the approaching elections to the Prussian Landtag, and adopted as their device the words: Truth, Liberty, and Justice.’ On January 31, 1871, Malincrodt was the first to £ enter the political arena with the new programme. Fifty-four deputies were elected according to the propositions of the platform. The Centre was thus established firmly in the Landtag. It then became necessary to gain entrance into the Reichstag. That happened on March 3, when 67 deputies were elected. On the twenty-first of the same month it entered the grand legislative assembly of Germany. Thenceforth the Centre held a strong and secure position. NDlA— Death of an Archbishop The death is announced of his Grace Archbishop Colgan, of Madras, who passed away on February 12, in the 87th year of his age, and the 67th year of his residence in India. The venerable prelate’s death was deeply mourned (says the Madras Mail ) not alone by the large community over whom he so long presided, and among whom he was so well known for his affability and genial kindliness of heart, but by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance. Dr. Colgan was born in Westmeath in 1824, and was educated at Navan Seminary and afterwards at Maynooth College. After being for some time on the mission in the Madras Vicariate, lie was appointed Principal of St. Mary’s College; later on he became VicarApostolic of Madras, and its first Archbishop in 1886. He was a Fellow and Examiner of the University of Madras, and founder of the Madras Catholic Club. PORTUGAL — Church and State In these days of grim political and religious strife (remarks the Catholic Times ) it is refreshing to read the amusing telegrams sent to the daily papers from Lisbon. For instance; we find the Foreign Minister has,.informed a deputation of journalists that the decree for -file separation of Church and State will be promulgated in a month. And then we “are told: ‘ Good relations exist between the Government and all the Bishops. The Government has made representations to the Vatican expressing its regret that the Pope does not send a representative to Portugal, where the Church has many faithful adherents. The revolutionists treated the Papal representative with contumely and he withdrew from the country; banished and robbed priests and nuns; subjected the Jesuit Fathers to

ignominious treatment before their expulsion. And now they are surprised that the Pope does not send a representative to Portugal! Amidst their anxieties—they are neither few nor decreasingthe Dictators have preserved their sense of humor. They have been elaborating a scheme of separation between Church and State by which they intend to .secure more plunder and to destroy the power of the Church completely, and yet they are on good relations with the Bishops"! xis in France, so in Portugal, in spite of the despoilers, the Church will become stronger than it has been. When bitter infidels obtain power the connection between Church and State is utilised to obstruct spiritual progress. The Dictators ill find it no easy task to disarm by mere phrase-monger-ing the enemies whom they have been creating at home and abroad by their tyranny and intolerance. The correspondent of the Times at Oporto informed the British public recently how ff the strong Christian feeling of the people in that city and the neighborhood was impelling them to revolt against the persecutors of the Church who in accordance with the dictates of the Grand Orient, misgovern the country. It is not merely Monarchists who are opposed to the policy of the Dictators. Republicans are also id at ease. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that, in spite of official reports which are intended to show that everything is going well with the new' Republic, the _ situation is far from satisfactory, Senhoi Hoiaen Christo, a distinguished Portuguese journalist and Republican who fought for the new' regime has - been compelled to leave his country. The Dictators’ dis- .. covered that he neither praised nor flattered them and that he even ventured to criticise their conduct. This was unpardonable. He has been ostracised, but he quitted Portugal with the conviction that a counter-revolution which may break out at any time, will put an end to the oppression of the present anti-Christian rulers. Nothing else could be expected in a land where the majority of the people are Christians and as such love justice and hate iniquity. ROME— Holy See and Foreign Courts Readers would bo well advised in discounting reports that are regularly set in motion by Continental agencies of a certain class regarding alleged difficulties between the Holy See and foreign courts (says a Rome correspondent). An instance in point is that lately made, much of as to the reported determination of Russia to prevent Papal instructions being followed by the Polish clergy. It is quite true that, in virtue of existing arrangements, communications to the Episcopate in the Russian dominions are to be made through the Minister of Public Worshipbut this regulation is understood to be limited to questions of a local and personal nature, affecting Russian subjects alone and in no way extends to Pontifical acts affecting the whole Church. With regard to these, as is well known the only publication required to make them binding all over the world is their insertion in the official bulletin of the .Holy See the ‘ Acta Apostolical Sedis.’ The Bishop of Sale Dr. Corbett, the Bishop of Sale, left the Eternal City on January 26 on his way back to his diocese in distant Australia (writes a Rome correspondent). A few days prior to his departure the venerable-looking prelate had a long and interesting audience with the Holy Father Irom whom he succeeded in obtaining various privileges and facilities quite out of the common. During his brief stay m Rome his Lordship astonished more than one capable rubricist by _ that phenomenal gift of investigation into the beaten highways and even the devious byways of liturgical lore for which he enjoys so unique a reputation in Australia. Indeed, the genial prelate’s surprising store of information in matters rubrical is only eoualled by his unselfishness in sharing it with others. " * UNITED STATES —Abbot Qasquet l> The r Right Rev. Francis Aidan Gasquet, the Abbot Pies!dent of the English Benedictines, intends to visit •n United States during the coming summer, when he will deliver there a series of lectures on the work being done by the Commission of which ho is tiie head. A Memorial to Cardinal Gibbons Plans for a memorial hall to be erected at the Catholic University ini Washington, in honor of the fiftieth anniversaiy of Cardinal Gibbons’ consecration to the priesthood and the twenty-fifth year of his elevation to the Sacred College, were started at two meetings held in that city recently. It is proposed to erect this memorial by public subscription and to call the building the Cardinal Gibbons’ Memorial Hall. GENERAL Catholics in the British Empire The total number of Catholics under the British flarr is estimated at 12,155,000, and for their ecclesiastical government (says the Sacred Heart Review) there are 190 bees, including those provisional ones known as vicariates and prefectures. British America, with a Catholic ponulation estimated at over 2,890,000, contains 44 of these Sees; British Asia, with its 2,150,000, contains 49- Aus tralasia, with nearly a million, has 31, and British Africa with 357,000, has 22, of which 20 are provisional. *