Religious Excitement in Continental Europe
CONTINENTAL EUROPE is at the present time full of religious excitement. In Italy much feeling has been aroused by the recent pronouncement of the Vatican against the so-called Christian democracy, which is regarded as evidence of the reactionary influence and intolerance of Cardinal Rampolla, the papal secretary of state. In Austria there is a clash between the ultramontanists and the more progressive Catholics, the latter being on the point of open revolt against the church authorities which uphold the radical ultramontane policy. In Paris a Dominican monk has created a stir by a volume he has just published, protesting against reactionary influences in the church, and condemning the attitude of the hierarchy toward reformers back to and including Luther. In Spain Premier Sagasta has felt obliged to concede something to the anti-clerical party, and has reduced the number of bishops to one for each of the provinces. In those countries which are most completely Catholic, the strongest anti-Catholic feeling is springing up.