The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. 281parochial rights, and renegade priests are intrudedin their place. The shepherdis driven away, andwolves lay waste the fold.Go to Prussia: what do you behold there? APrime Minister flushed with his recent victoriesover France. He is not content with seeing hismaster wear the imperial crown of Germany he;wants him also to wear the tiara of the Pope. LikeArnan, the minister of King Assuerus, Bismarck isnot satisfied with being second in the kingdom solong as Mardochai, that is the Church, refuses tobow down and worship him.He fines the venerable Archbishop of Gnesen-Posen and other Prussian Prelates again andagain, sells their furniture, and finally sends themto prison for a protracted period. St. John Chrysostombeautifully remarks that St. Paul, elevatedto the third heaven, was glorious to contemplate;but that far more glorious is Paul buried in thedungeons of Rome. I can say in like manner, ofArchbishop Ledochowski of Poseu, that he was conspicuous in the Vatican Council among his peers ;but he was still more conspicuous sitting solitary inhis Prussian prison.The loyalty of the Prussian clergyis above reproach. The Bishops are imprisoned because theyinsist on the right of educating students for theministry, ordaining and appointing clergy, withoutconsulting the government.They are denied a rightwhich in this country is possessed by Free Masons,and every other human organizationin the land.24*