He has,
however, no ground for refusing to uphold the bishop, so the sentence
will have to stand, but it is rumored that he intends to show his
displeasure by removing the bishop to another diocese where the work
will be harder, and the income not so large.
Napoleon Bonaparte was excommunicated by Pope Pius VII. in 1809, but
since that time the punishment has hardly ever been inflicted, and it is
thought that at the present time, when Spain is in so much trouble, the
bishop should have sought some less severe measure to bring the minister
to terms.
It is of course a terrible thing for Spain that one of her highest
ministers should be so punished and disgraced.
It was hoped that Senor Reverter would resign his office, and so save
the Government any further trouble. This, however, he refuses to do, and
the members of his department are in sympathy with his defiance of the
Church.
It is said that friends are trying to persuade the bishop to forgive the
minister, and withdraw the sentence, if he consents to resign at the end
of the year.
The bishop is not willing to do anything of the kind. He thinks that if
the Government is allowed to plunder one church without punishment, all
the wealth belonging to the Church will soon be seized and taken
possession of by the crown.
This unfortunate affair has brought fresh trouble on poor Queen
Christina.
The Government, which has been in a very uncertain condition since the
death of Canovas, has been unable to oppose the excommunication of Senor
Reverter.
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