Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 9, 11 March 1925, Page 55

Catholic World

DEATH OF A SPANISH BISHOP. The historic diocese of Salamanca is widowed by the death of its Bishop, Dr. Angel Regueras Lopez, who died at the royal monastery of the Escorial, whilst on a visit to the capital (says Catholic News Service, London, for January 12). The last moments of the Bishop were consoled by a telegram from Cardinal Gasparri, conveying the Apostolic Benediction from Pius XI. The late Bishop was born of humble parents at Benaventa, in Zamora. In addition to ruling the See of Salamanca, the Bishop was also Administrator Apostolic of the vacant See of Plasencia. The funeral offices were recited in Madrid, and afterwards the body of the Bishop was taken to Salamanca, where it has been buried in the cathedral church. ‘‘CKVtKMMM}*

SLOVAK CHURCH UNITY MOVEMENT. A very interesting religious service was held in the Holy Cross Church in Prague, a short time ago, under the auspices of the Church Unity Movement. This movement has its headquarters in the episcopal city of Olmtitz. The Auxiliary Bishop of Prague presided at the function, which was attended by Russian Catholics of the Russo-Greek Rite and the Ukranians and Ruthenians of the Graeco-Slav Rite, In addition there was a triduum, organized to promote the reunion idea amongst the Czech Catholics. Sermons on unity were preached, and on one of the days the Russian office was chanted by the Russian Catholic priest, Father Trophim. Hi s Excellency the Nuncio was present on the first day of the triduum.

FRENCH CATHOLICS ARE MOBILISED. Every French Catholic, whether priest or layman, who is endowed in any way with the gift of public speaking, has been mobilised. In every part of the country they have been called on to denounce the antireligious policy of the Government, and to organise an effective resistance against it. And in all the towns and villages, where they are carrying their message, they ■ are drawing immense audiences, and enthusiastic audiences at that. It is becoming more and more rare for them to fail in getting practical resolutions passed; and they are succeeding in drawing together a united people. Some of these are not content only with speaking, they are writing as well. They give their impressions to the newspapers, and those who read and listen swell the number of those who are struggling for religious freedom. Mr, Jean Guiraud, the editor of La Croix f has been writing his impressions. “Have confidence” (he says). “I have seen the bishops who, as the true pastors of their people, have given the faithful the order of the day in unmistakable terms, gathering them into groups, and placing themselves at their head. I have seen whole populations respond to the appeal of their bishop —lß,ooo at Roche-

sur-Yon, the chief place in the Vendee; 10.000 in a single suburb at Oholet.” Mr. Guiraud has not, however, seen everything. He was not present, for instance, when 50.000 Basques and Bearnais assembled under the leadership of the Bishop of Bayonne, now when the 72,000 Bretons of Finistere met in response to the appeal of the Bishop of Quimper. There is that other militant, the Abbe Desgranges, a master of crowds, who was present at the Quimper demonstration, and this is what he had to say: “The Catholic Deputies now present might tell me that last May they received on an average 65,000 votes, and that many who voted then could not undertake the journey now. Well, that may be. But there is not the slightest doubt that vast numbers of the electors who then voted for the Deputies who support M. Herriot, are to-day manifestly against his Ministry.” And the Abbe Desgranges added that each week, since last July, he has gathered from all parts of the country information that bears out his contention.

CHURCH AND STATE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. The Catholic Church in the Czechoslovak Republic is passing through great difficulties, part of which is an inheritance of the old days when Church and State were bound up very closely together. Five years ago the young Republic entered entered into friendly relations with the Vatican, a Legation to Holy See was established, and Rome sent its Nuncio to Prague. First of all Mgr. Micara, now Nuncio at Brussels, and Mgr. Marmaggi, his successor. These prelates have carried out their mission with fidelity and dignity; but nevertheless, their mission has lacked its fullest fruitfulness on account of certain relations between Church and State. Up to the present neither concordat nor convention with the Holy See has been ratified by the Government, though the Popular Party has done all in its power to bring about ratification. From the very beginning the dominant parties, the Radicals and Socialists, have worked to bring about a radical separation between the Church and the State, which, in effect, would be nothing more than a policy of suppression and confiscation. Two years ago the Popular or Catholic Party agreed to co-operate in the Government. It was understood that the question of relations between Church and State should be submitted to an understanding, and regulated by a special decision. Nothing since then has been done officially to create tension, but at the same time nothing has been done to put matters on a proper and equitable foundation. _ Recently the Socialists have judged the time opportune for reviving the question of Church and State, in the form of attacks on the Holy See, on the Prague Nunciature, and the Catholic population generally of Czecho-Slovakia.

The obvious aim ol the Socialist parties is to provoke a rupture between the Government and the Holy See. For example, the separatist movement in Slovakia, which aims at an autonomous parliament and self-deter-mination, is declared to be fostered and kept up by the instigation of the Holy See. This, it should be unnecessary to add, is far from the truth. The Slovaks are Catholics, and their political leader is Father Andrew Hlinka; but the Holy See has nothing to do with Slovakia, apart from its proper interest in the episcopal sees. Again, the Holy See appointed an Apostolic Administrator of the Slovak diocese of Trnava ; but the work of the Administrator has been thwarted by an official refusal to accord him recognition, so that he cannot, in fact, administer the property of the see at all. There are two vacant sees in Slovakia, for which Rom© has nominated bishops. Time after time the Holy See has intimated its candidates for these sees; but the Government takes no notice whatever, refuses either to accept the candidates, or to submit other names to Rome. Last of all, the Socialist parties, evidently taking the French Radicals as their model, are demanding that the vote .for the Vatican Legation shall be withdrawn from the next Budget and the Legation itself suppressed. The whole position is thoroughly unsatisfactory, and were it not for the fact that separation is only another word for spoliation, the Church would be better off if its relations with the State were severed.

JUBILEE OF PORTUGAL’S PRIMATE. Braga, which is Portugal’s Rome, has been celebrating the silver jubilee of the episcopal consecration of its Archbishop, Mgr. Vieira de Mattos. The celebrations lasted several days, and in spite of the efforts to suppress religion, religious enthusiasm has been the most prominent feature of the celebration. The admirers of the Archbishop are numerous. Almost all the Portugese bishops came to Braga .for the jubilee, as did the Nuncio, and the anniversary has left the Portugese Catholics with a feeling of great satisfaction. Religious conditions have been very difficult. But the Archbishop is not a man to be overawed by politicians. He saw to it that the Catholic congresses continued to meet at Graga, and one of the most notable of them was the National Eucharistic Congress, which met not very long ago. The Archbishop of Braga, whose See dates back to the 4th century, is Primate of Spain, but he also has the honorary title of Primate of the Spains, and he is seigneur of Braga. When the monarchy was overthrown and a republic set up, a great deal of church' property was confiscated. Among this were the two diocesan seminaries ; but the Archbishop has since then provided himself with two fine seminaries, which take the place of the two buildings which are now used as v government offices by the Republic, ’’3'iS