GERMANY

New Zealand Tablet, 2 January 1913, Page 55

GERMANY

THE ANTI-JESUIT LAW. Some of the controversial Protestant journals in this country, whose conductors appear to disregard completely the intrinsic merits and demerits of causes which they support or oppose and in forming their judgment to be guided simply by the consideration whether the promotion of the cause in question would serve or injure the Catholic Church, have been announcing with joy (says the Catholic Times ) that the majority of the Germans are opposed to tbe movement for repealing the anti-Jesuit law. That no doubt was the case some years ago. The men who voted for it represented two-thirds of the electors. But this is no longer the state of opinion. The National Liberals, who were the chief supporters of the law on its introduction, have fallen away. To-day %hey cannot speak for more than about a seventh of the electorate. On the other hand, the Centre Party and the Social Democrats, who are in favor of the abolition of the law, have made remarkable headway. The Centre now represent two million electors and the Socialists four million two hundred and fifty thousand. A careful calculation shows that two-thirds of the Germans are against the retention of the law and one-third for it. This fact

t should have a determining effect on the decision of the Bundesrat.

ENCYCLICAL ON WORKMEN'S SYNDICATES. The Osservatore Romano of November 9 published the full text of the long expected Encyclical to the German Bishops on the Workmen’s Syndicates. Your readers (says the Rome correspondent of the London Universe) know the paints at issue between the socalled ‘ Cologne tendency ’ advocating the formation of Catholic societies and the participation in ‘ interconfessional ’ ones, and the ‘ Berlin tendency,’ exclusively Catholic and denominational. Long and heatedly has the controversy raged, and it even seems to divide. the episcopate into separate camps. Nor has official Germany disinterested itself entirely in the matter, for undoubtedly it has occupied much of' the Prussian Minister’s time here. Now, finally, we have the Holy Father’s decision, taken, as he says himself, after consulting on© and all of the German Bishops. The Encyclical is clear, strong, and definite; it states firmly doctrinal principles, and yet, fully alive to peculiar circumstances for the common good, it allows adaptation to those circumstances under proper safeguards. After recalling the chief doctrinal principles already laid down by Pope Leo XIII. in the memorable lieruni No varum -viz., that all human actions should be directed to a supernatural aim, and that social questions in general, and in particular questions that regard labor, wages, strikes, etc., must, and do, have a moral aspect, and consequently are not altogether independent of the authority of the Church, the Holy Father declares his entire approval of Catholics societies and organisations, and in Catholic countries no others could be approved. In non-Catholic countries, however/ circumstances differ, and co-operation with • nonCatholics can be allowed, under proper safeguards. The Holy Father would prefer, if it were sufficient, the mere federation of the different societies. Catholic and non-Catholic, on the well-known system of the ‘ Cartel ’; but he goes on to say that even direct membership of mixed syndicates will be allowed, provided that the members are simultaneously inscribed in some Catholic society of working men, and that the teaching and precepts of the Church are never endangered. The Encyclical closes with a warm appeal for peace and union among German Catholics.