The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 11 April 1912, Page 55

The Catholic World

' : FRANCE I- ** THE RELIGIOUS REVIVAL. The-keen interest with which the Holy Father follows the religious revival throughout France may be inferred from the following letter which his Holiness has written to the Cardinal-Archbishop of Paris: From Our heart We have already spoken in terms of praise as to the work of catechising which has been represented to Us as flourishing in your country. And just when We hear news of another congress of the catechists of all France which is to be held in Paris under your presidency, .we'learn also that, by. the mercy of God and the energy of good people, this work has made such progress that the number of pious ladies, who effectually labor for the" sound education of children, amounts to 40,000. Therefore this' is a case where, dear son. We must add Our hearty congratuiations to the eulogies already passed. This We do with deep satisfaction. May ‘ these - good ladies and all who apply themselves to the development of this work find in this manifestation of Our. benevolence a reward for their zeal and a source of encouragement to exercise it still more widely in the future.’ > ' A SYSTEM OF ESPIONAGE. , From a letter which the Lyons Deyeche has just published it appears that a regular system of espionage is kept up by the French Government for the purpose of checking Catholic movements. The document which has been given to the light by the Lyons journal was issued from the Justice de Faix office of the canton of Pacandiere, department of the Loire, was marked ‘ very confidential,’ and was addressed to the local mayor. In it a number of questions were put to elicit information about the Catholics of the commune. Were there any clerical associations? Would the Mayor draw up a list of them, stating the number of members in each, the leaders and the work in which they were really engaged? Were any members of the Religious Orders pursuing under one form or another the objects to which they formerly devoted themselves ? Were the clergy active and combative respecting popular education, and social and economic questions? Were they opposing the public schools and organising associations ? Did the priests include amongst them members of the dissolved Religious Orders? The conductors of the secret society which directs the policy of the French Government no doubt obtain information of this sort from Government officials in all parts of the country and order the Ministers to become severely repressive wherever they discover any signs of Catholic progress. PORTUGAL THE TYRANNY OF THE GOVERNMENT. In his Lenten Pastoral his Eminence Cardinal Logue says that the anti-religious wave, which for years past has swept over Europe, so far from being checked seems to have gained in strength and volume. Having referred to the attacks of/the French Government on the Church, which is notwithstanding gaining ground, and described the persecution in . Portugal, especially the horrible state of the prisons, which are overcrowded, he proceeds: -In connection with the lamentable state •'of things two considerations suggest themselves which merit attention and beget surprise. Portugal has long been a nursling of England. We should, therefore, expect some remonstrance from the English Government against excesses which are opposed to justice, humanity, and the most elementary conceptions of civil and religious liberty. Yet, as far as the public is aware, no remonstrance has been forthcoming. This is the more striking when we consider how ready our.; statesmen and politicians are to. respond to the calls of humanity in every part of the world. Fresh in the memory of all are the outcry and’ agitation which had been raised, some years ago, regarding alleged cruelties; in the Belgian Congo, an outcry and agitation which

were perfectly justified if the allegations were well founded. I know they have been denied by many who have had i the most ample means, of ascertaining the truth. Surely these feelings of humanity . and that Christian charity which make no distinction of color, class, or creed should not stop short when the victims happen to be Catholics. Perhaps interest in Naboth’s vineyard may have inspired the outcry in the- one case, while political. expediency stifles it in the other. More surprising still than the apathy of i statesmen 'is the silence of our Catholic members of Parliament. Struggling nationalities in every part of the world find active sympathisers. Egyptian Nationalists, Young Turks, Persians, Mongolians, and the rest, find able, eloquent, and zealous advocates while no voice is raised on behalf of Christians writhing in the grasp of a tyranny which is hostile both to God and man. What a contrast to the action of those generous, humane English residents in Portugal, who, with great risk to themselves —for the . vengeance ■of • the Carbonarios is swift arid' pitiless—have formed a committee and drawn up reports of the atrocities which they have witnessed, to stir up the sympathies and enlist .the support of their countrymen.’ ROME STUDENTS AT THE ECCLESIASTICAL COLLEGES. In the chapter devoted by the Annuario Ecclesiastico for 1912 to the foreign, and home seminaries some interesting information is to be found. This list will give an idea of the foreign and home elements in one branch of ecclesiastical life alone. / The French College with 130 students, the Roman Seminary with 60, the Urban College of the Propaganda has about 200 of all nations on the face of the earth; the Capranica College 30, German-Hungarian 100, Greek 41, Ruthenian 16, Irish 45, English 25, English College of the Yen. Bede 11, Scotch 38, North American 160, Belgian 23, South American 120, Teutonic 20 (all of whom are priests pursuing post-graduate courses), Polish 16," Armenian 20, Bohemian 30, Spanish 100, Canadian 22 (all priests, same as the Teutonic), Maronite 20, Portuguese 15, Leonine (for post-graduate course). In addition to these all the Orders and religious congregations have their own bodies of students, who, like the others, attend one or other of the several universities, UNITED STATES J FAIRPLAY TO CATHOLICS. ( What a remarkable contrast the attitude of the head of the great American. Republic towards the Catholic Church presents to that adopted towards the same institution by the petty tyrants of the Portuguese Republic. American Catholic papers give a noteworthy instance of the President’s unflinching determination to be just to Catholics as well as to others. During his absence from ■ Washington - Mr. R. . G.- Valentine, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, without consulting the Secretary of the Interior, who is his immediate superior, or the. President, who is held responsible for the acts of his administration, issued a letter to-the Indian agents in all parts of the States directing that in Government schools members of any denomination wearing .a distinctive garb must leave it off when on duty, and that if they refused to do this they must receive notice that- after a reasonable time to , enable ' them to make arrangements for employment elsewhere their services would not ;be required. A protest was lodged against the order, by the Rev. : W.-H. Ketcham, director of the Catholic Indian Bureau, who called ’the executive’s■ attention to the fact that the Catholic teachers were employed by the Government as the result of an agreement at the time the Government took over certain Catholic schools. .Thereupon President Taft commanded Commissioner Valentine to revoke his order until some future time when a„full hearing can be given to all interested parties. Inferentially the Commissioner was rebuked for having taken the step without having consulted those in higher authority. ' y ~