DEMANDS OF THE GERMAN CENTRE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 6, 6 June 1890, Page 31

DEMANDS OF THE GERMAN CENTRE

The Prussian Diet was opened, on April 15, by Chancellor Von Caprivi.

Dr. Windthorst declared that the Centriats insisted upon the reestabluhment of the relations between Church and State before the Kultuikampf. He complaint d of mal-administration in the public worship department, and demanded adheience to a protectionist policy in economic matters.

On April 18, during the discussion on the public worship estimates in the lower house of the PruESian Diet, Dr. Windthorst, the leader of the Clerical party, -asked for the creation of a Catholic section iD the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department ; a settlement of the question relative to the appointment of priefats ; the abrogation of the BperrgeBetz, by which priests in certain cases are deprived of their stipends; a supervision cf the schools by priests ; the free admission of Oa'holic religious Orders into Prussia, and the prohibition of the use of Catholic churches by Old Catholics.

Dr. Von Gossler, Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs, in reply to Dr. Wind thoist, said that Government cjuld not comply wnh tie demands of tbe Clericals. Particular denominations, he said, could not claim to be represented in the Ministry. Catholic matters were attended to by Catholic officials, In affairs affecting the schools aid universities the opinions ot the Catholic leaders were taken. Dr. Von Gossler announced that a bill dealing wiih the Sperrgesetz would be introduced in the Diet. He declined to interfere with tte Old Catholics. The Government, he said, had received no complaints regarding them. The question of the entry of religious Orders into Prussia, Dr. Von Gossler declared, could not be decided by the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs alone.

Although Minister Von Gossler showed no intention during the debate in the Landtag to concede the full demands of the Catholic Clerical, he indicated the desire of the Government to sweep away the last traces of tLe May laws. The section of the Centre Party not closely adhering to Dr. Windthorst take Herr Von Gosslei's assurances as satisfactory, and will support the Government. The leaders of the Centrist minority, Barons Von Huene and SchorlemerAlst, are more ready than is Dr. Windthorst to form a coalition. TLe oj/d Government groups have already assumed a position leading to a combination with the Conservatives, Imperialists, and the ri^hc wing cf the National Liberale. The prospects of the Government having a majority in the Reichstag are, therefore, good. Should the educational measure before tbe Council extend to the clergy the control of the schools, the solid votes of the Centrists would be secured, thus assuring an overwhelming majority.

In the debate in the Unterhaus on April 19 the Free Conservative speakers declared their intention of meeting some of the demands of the Centrists.

Herr Zeidlitz, speaking for the Free Conservative party, announced its readiness to open negotiations with a view to supporting the desires of the Clericals ia regard to the procedure connected with the oath taken by Administrators of Bishoprics. He could not, he said, concede ecclesiastical supervision of the schools or the creation of a Catholic department in the Ministry of Worship, The Clericals, if wise, would accept the conditions offered for the support of the Conservatives and join with them, devoting their strength to combat the spread of Socialism.

A number of Centrists applauded Dr. Windthorst's response to repeated complaints that the principle of denominational equality was not observed in the echools.