The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 25 January 1906, Page 27

The Catholic World

AUSTRIA— The CathbUcr Press f. ,v, - v ,' At. the recent Catholic Congress in Austria 'an im•^porfcant - resolution wa's submitted- by Father Kolb ; 3.J., in.",lavor of the Catholic press/ -He. pointed out 2"?'-P™r.'Of 'the anti-UathoriCv«.newspap>rs," and said , that. ;-tM only opposition to theriK waS- '.furnished by 'ihe'r'Catliolic journals,, few and badly supported. He pleaded; for increased interest in them -on. the part of Catholics throughout - Austria. The Congress took up the matter,- and will try,, to strengthen the existing Catholic newspapers by subventions and also by furnishing them with news, facts, and political and apologetic, articles likely to be of service to the good cause of building up a strong, efficient Catholic newspaper press. At the same time no attempt will be made to interfere with the political complexion of the journalsprovided they observe the Catholic point of view nothing further will be asked of them. This is as it should be. Liberty is as the breath of his nostrils to a journalist ; and so long as in essentials he is correct, he may be allowed freedom in matters doubtful and unsettled. ENGLAND— Army and Navy Chaplains , The Holy See has decided that ' commissioned chaplains in the army and navy are to be under the jurisdiction af the Archbishop of Westminster, 'except for troops in Ireland, India, and South Alrica. The Bishop of Birmingham The Bishop of Birmingham, Right Rev. Dr. Ilsley, on December 4 completed a quarter of a century's tenure of the episcopal office. There was no formal recognition of the occasion, as his Lordship was presented wlith congratulations and gifts when he entered upon the year of his silver jubilee. The day was, however, one which awakened grateful emotions amongst both the clergy and laity of the diocese, and the lengthening years do but deepen the affection in which the people hold their Bishop. On the ensuing day at the Aston Workhouse, where a chapel was handed over to his Lordship for the use of the Catholic,inmates, a touching reference was made to the Bishop's jubilee by the Chairman of the Board of Guardians who said that in Dr. Ilsley they had a prelate who had carried out the best and highest traditions of the Uhurch to which he belonged. FRANCE— Hasty and 111-considered legislation Law-making at full speed (says the ' Catholic Times,' December 8) sums up the method of pushing the Separation Bill through the French Senate. Every inch of steam Jis put on; and the- .engines are driven at full speed. Article after article, clause after clause is read, talked over, and voted. Arguments count for nothing. Indeed, when one of the Senators moved to omit article seven, which v transfers- Church property given for charitable purposes, to secular institutions doing similar charitable work, he was bluntly told that his contention had good reason in its favor but the Bill must go through! And, it is. going through very gaily. Day after day the discussion proceeds, but no changes in the text take place. M. Rouvier has pledged his word- that he will pass the measure and in virtue of that pledge the majority of the Deputies support him in power:' The bloc would sacrifice anything rather than miss the pleasure of- dealing a blow at the status pf religion in France. Within a month the French Church will be separated from the State, and the time of trial,, perhaps the crisis, for her will have begun. Catholic France is wondering what the end will be. - c -■ ji_. .1 ROME— Sacred Music The two great mid-November feasts (writes a Rome correspondent) alone suffice to mark the change in sacred music brought about by Pope Pius X. At St. Cecilia's Church, for its festival feast, even the cantantibus organis of the elder Capocci was omitted this year as • last in deference to the Motu Proprio, and Cardinal Rampolla, Titular of the Church, pontificated aSid grave Gregorian. A£ this year's omission of the remarkable and much-admired piece of highly symbolic music was the secondhand the Motu Proprio was dated only on St. Cecilia's Day, 1903, better observance could not have been given At San Clemente, for its patronal feast, two days later the Schola Gregorian sang a Mass of Vittona and Vespers of equal musical chasteness, while the Plain Chant was after the new Vatican issue of choral books.