Popes and Bull-Fighting

New Zealand Tablet, 19 January 1922, Page 13

Popes and Bull-Fighting

■'«7 ln,"the eighth volume of his History of■the Popes only y recently from - the press, the noted historian Ludwig von .. Pastor treats ,of the condemnation of 1 bull-baiting; pro- 7 nounced by Pope Pius V. in-- a ‘decree- dated November 1, 1507,? and relates the difficulties encountered by the Papal ? Nuncio in Spain, Castagna, in consequence of- the ban. In view of the letter of congratulation sent last Christmas twelvemonths by the Papal Secretary of State to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at Toulon ? in France the facts related by Pastor regarding the ”step - taken by Pius V., are of particular interest. ‘ • ~ ' In the recent communication regarding the letter from * Romo we are told that Cardinal Gasparri declared: “If human barbarity is still openly manifested in bull-figlding, the Church will no doubt maintain a ban, as in the past, .on all such shameful and bloody shows. Consequently the Holy Father takes pleasure in expressing his deep satisfaction to the Toulon Society and also conveys his earnest wishes for a full success in all subsequent endeavors which * are as worthy as they are necessary.” Cardinal Gasparri could have referred to the . above-mentioned general , prohibition of bull-fights, as it had previously already obtained in the Papal States. The ban imposed by Pius V. decreed that whosoever arranged a bull-fight came under the censure; and whoever lost his life in such a fight was to be denied Christian burial. In Spain the decree of Pius V. met with a most unfriendly reception. Pastor writes: “Justified though the measure was, grave difficulties were raised against its enactment.' At the very first notice of the decree-the Spanish grandees raised their voices in protest against it, and King Philip 11. likewise championed the national pastime which . the Papal decree endangered. As was his wont he sought out pliable theologians, who, acting upon his suggestion, advanced proof that bull-fights were not sinful. In their condition of dependence on the Government the Spanish ' Bishops dared not promulgate the decree, so that Castagna was forced to do so himself. Unfortunately there were many defenders of the barbarous practice, among them even an Andalusian Franciscan'hose treatise was severely censured-by Pius V.” (Pastor, History of the Popes, etc.. 1566-1572, vol. 8, p. 303.)