THE WAR AGAINST THE CHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 81, 14 November 1874, Page 6

THE WAR AGAINST THE CHURCH.

Three eminent men indifferent spheres of life'have uttered their belief that Europe is on the eve of a great religious conflict, which bids fair to outstrip any that the world* has yet seen. Mr. Disraeli, Archbishop Mawnino, and Dr. Cumming, have each predicted that a terrible struggle will take place ere long, and religion will be the cause. To any observer of the movements of European Governments, or the aims of the vast organisation in existence on the Continent of Europe as elsewhere, which has been anathematised by the Head of the Church, the prediction will not sound strange. On the contrary, the stand taken by the Civil Governments within the last few years against the Catholic Church, their open avowals of their intention to crush her, aud the means taken to carry out their designs, have portended a great conflict for religious freedom. The temporary prostration of one of the most ancient and Catholic countries, has been taken advantage of by the enemies of the Church for the accomplishment of their designs, and from all quarters she has been attacked. It is not untrue to say that the Catholic Church is now being persecuted as fiercely and as universally as at any previous period of her existence. Not a solitary country to which we can look is there in which she is not attacked in some form or other. Her authority is denied, and attempts are unceasingly made to rob her of her privileges, to weaken her influence, to sap her foundation. Her ministers are imprisoned, exiled, and robbed of the means to obtain the necessaries of life ; and her churches and

religious institutions are. ruthlessly plundered. And all these things are applauded, nay considered lawful and praiseworthy by men even in our own community, who profess to hold liberal opinions, and who would indignantly repudiate the accusation of bigotry and injustice. Ihe voice of the whole Catholic world has been raised in defence of the rights and privileges of the Church, and (governments have taken no heed thereof, but continue to plunder, despoil, and persecute her in the name of " law !" A powerful effort— probably the most powerful that has ever been made— will ere long be made by the united enemies of the Church against her ; signs of its approach are visible, but it will be as futile as- all others have been, -The great struggle between Church and State will, as Mr Disraeli says : " shake many thrones of Europe, and will shortly be raging on the Continent like a moaning wind." J* ™ be a terrible struggle, but one from which the Church will come forth with new vitality and vigor.