The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 27 March 1913, Page 55

The Catholic World

» —— ! V ;:.v ~::,. AUSTRIA DEATH OF A CARDINAL. His Eminence Cardinal Francis Nagl, Archbishop of Vienna, died on February 4 in the 58th year of his age. He was born in Vienna on November 26, 1855, and consecrated Bishop of Trieste in 1902. Eight years later he was appointed Coadjutor to his Eminence Cardinal Gruscha, Archbishop of Vienna, and succeeded to the Sec in August, lylO. Archbishop Nagl was created and prociaimed a member of the College of Cardinals on November 27, 1911.

FRANCE THE PROPERTY OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS. The French Ministry have given their approbation to a Bill for regulating the sale of the property of religious Orders and for otherwise amending the law of 1910. The new Bill proposes to establish a common fund for the relief of the members of any dissolved religious Order or society, the sale of whose property has not provided sufficient means for their support. Secondly, the Bill provides for permissions granting provisional right of residence to members of suppressed religious congregations.

GERMANY THE ANTI-JESUIT LAW. If reports now circulating in the German States are to bo credited (says the Catholic Times), the Imperial Chancellor has discovered that the feeling amongst the Protestants for the retention of the antiJesuit law is by no means as strong as he represented it to be in his speech on the decision of the Bundesrat or Federal Council. Investigations and a more thorough knowledge of the Centre's plans have enabled him to see that the law may be changed or abolished without much peril. Rumor has it that he is at present negotiating with the party in the hope of ascertaining what is the concession on this question with which they would be content. There are, it appears, two proposals under consideration. One is to the effect that the Act should be suspended for ten or a dozen years, and then either abolished or put into operation as popular opinion and the circumstances of the time might dictate. The other proposal is that the clause in the Act imposing on the Federal Council the duty of seeing it is carried out should be cancelled, a course which would give each State liberty to interpret the law as it pleased. The Government cannot dispense with the aid of the Centre, and it will, we may assume, make a virtue of necessity. A compromise will be arranged whereby the Jesuits will, at least, be permitted to discharge priestly duties.

ITALY CATHOLIC ACTION'. The Holy Father by a telegram approving of the sentiments which Count Delia Torre, President of the Italian Popular Union, expressed at Venice, has stamped the speech as an authentic exposition of views which he wishes the Italian Catholics to take on the eve of the general election. The Count plainly intimated that it is not the intention of the Pontiff that the Catholics should form a distinct party, but he dwelt impressively on the need for an active defence of the Church and society. In the words of his Holiness, it is desired that the Italian Catholics should all unite their wills and energies in a solid organisation to assert those principles which tend to the restoration of the Kingdom of Christ. We (Catholic Times) may therefore look forward to a viogrous Catholic campaign. The Catholic leaders are not only fortified by the advice of the Holy Father, but they have also derived encouragement from speeches such as those of the Car-

dinal-Archbishop of Westminster. Considering * the power which the Masonic lodges exercise in the highest political circles of Italy, the work of defending Christianity and; the rights of the Pope is one which involves a hard struggle, but if they use their strength wisely, the Catholics are quite equal to its demands. ~ i

- - ' / ROME DATES. : ; : V '■ By those who have experienced the inconveniences of a long religious ceremony in the Sistine Chapel during the intense heat of a Roman summer (writes a Rome correspondent) the following notification, coming from the Papal Secretariate of State, will be much appreciated : ' In consequence of the unsuitability of the summer season, by order of superior authority, the Papal Chapel of July 20th on the occasion of the anniversary of ■/' /.the death of the Sovereign Pontiff, Leo" XIII., is transferred to November 5 ; and the Papal Chapel of August 9, held heretofore on the occasion of the anniversary of the coronation of his Holiness Pius X., happily reigning, is likewise transferred to November 16, the date on which recurs the anniversary of the episcopal consecration of the Holy Father.'

SPAIN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE HOLY SEE. The Spanish Premier has published a declaration of the Ministerial policy in which he expresses the desire to see the work of establishing peace amongst all classes in Spain completed. He has been shrewd enough to recognise that the object he has in view could not be achieved by following the lines laid down by Senor Canalejas, the late Premier. The Catholics of Spain number eighteen millions out of a population of nineteen and a-half millions, and not only is their faith strong, but they are most devoted to the Holy See. To maintain, as Senor Canalejas did, that on-questions affecting religion the State has a right to give a decision without consulting the Holy See, even though a Concordat exists, was to create a general feeling of indignation amongst them. Count de Romanones sees that if ho were to pursue such a policy he would not only weaken his Government, but endanger its existence. He has therefore come to a definite understanding with the Holy Father.

UNITED STATES A MUNIFICENT GIFT. On January 25 the munificent sum of £20,000 was presented to Archbishop Ireland, by a committee of St. Paul citizens, for the completion of the dome of his beautiful new Cathedral. The presentation was made by Mr. Paul Doty, who told of the veneration which St. Paul holds for the Archbishop and of the desire of the city in general to seethe Cathedral completed. Mr. Doty said: 'ln the presentation of the dome fund, I wish to express on behalf of the citizens of St. Paul the spontaneous desire that has made possible this gift. It is a token of the reverence we hold for you. Many who have contributed to this fund know you. Many you know. They have thought of the good you have done for St. Paul, for the State, and the nation. They have the highest regard for your worth. They realise that in a time of unrest it is good that they may turn to you for inspiration. Not all who have donated to this fund are of one faith, but regardless of that fact we have wanted to have some part in the erection of this magnificent Cathedral. The donation I have to offer represents cash subscribed, credit, and pledges to the sum of £20,000. It comes not from the rich, nor from the poor, but from all in St. Paul who know and like you, and wish to see the Cathedral assured.'