The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 10 August 1911, Page 1543

The Catholic World

BELGIUM THE FUTURE OF THE CATHOLIC PARTY. ' For years there have been predictions that the Catholics of Belgium who have had a majority of representatives in Parliament for the past twenty-seven years would have to give way to the Socialists and the Liberals. The fall of the majority in the course of time from sixty to six, and the recent resignation of the Schollaert Ministry have given renewed confidence' to the prophets, and they now foretell that the Catholic supremacy will end with the General Election next May. - j The assumption is that anti-clericals will be returned for the greater number of the seventeen seats which an automatic redistribution will add to the new Chamber of Representatives. Even in this event the Catholics have no cause to entertain gloomy anticipations. It is fairly certain that their opponents can only succeed by co-operative action, and that is not likely to be permanently very feasible between the Belgian Socialists and the Belgian Liberals. But it is by no means to be taken for granted that the Catholics will not retain a majority. Their representatives have a fine record, and the de Broqueville Ministry have an educational and social programme which must secure for them a great deal of popular sympathy. The Belgian voter is well instructed, and he prefers practical legislation of a progressive character to chimerical schemes, however glittering. FRANCE MORE-ESTABLISHMENTS TO BE CLOSED^ A correspondent forwards to L’Officiel a list of * 499 establishments belonging to various religious teaching congregations, of which 128 are to be closed before January 1, 1913, and 317 before July 1, 1914. Another decree orders the closing of 19 such establishments even by September 1 of this year, with 62 schools belonging to religious congregations. So it will be seen that the Minister of the Interior is not idle, in spite of his enforced' inaction. GERMANY . AN •; OFFENCE AGAINST MILITARY LAW. / • Twenty-four years ago, before he had any idea of becoming a priest, a German prelate named Monsignor Worth left his country and went to Rome without fulfilling his military duties. He lately surrendered himself voluntarily to the Military Court at Treves to expiate his youthful offence against the law. The Court has sentenced him to six months’ imprison- - ment and formal military degradation. ROME THE FEAST OP CORPUS CHRISTI. With deep joy and fervor the people of Rome (writes a correspondent) have celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi. During the day all business houses were closed. Masses were attended from early morning in the various basilicas and churches. In several parts of the city public processions of the Blessed Sacrament were held amid manifestations of the greatest reverence. . Of course with each procession a number of Italian gendarmes walked, lest Socialist roughs or Masonic hirelings should occasion any; disturbance. All, however, passed off in the utmost tranquility. THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS. One of the results of the Spanish Parliamentary .Commission on the Law of Associations must be to enlighten the public throughout Spain as to the nature of the debt the country, owes the religious Orders.