[Inclosure in No.
483.—Translation.]
Letter of Archbishop Ledochowski to Pastor Brenk,
July 8, 1876, and Pastor Brenk’s
reply.
[Extract from Norddeutsche Allegemeine
Zeitung, Berlin, 13 September, 1876.]
The Reichs and Staats-Anzeiger writes: After the former archbishop of
Posen and Gnesen-Count von Ledochowski had been deposed from his office
by judgment and law, had informed the clergy of the archbishoprics, by
an address dated from Rome in March last, “that he had resumed the
active exercise of the episcopal authority in his two archbishoprics,”
he has also, in violation of the existing laws of the state, acted in
accordance with his words. Under date of July 8 last, he has addressed
to Pastor Brenk, at Piaski, the following letter:
“Beloved Son: The
afflicting intelligence has reached us that you have, to the
great scandal of the faithful, openly recognized the
sacrilegious politico-ecclesiastical laws enacted in recent
years by the Prussian government for the overthrow of the Church
of Christ our Master, although it could not have been unknown to
you that laws of that nature were condemned from time to time,
not only by us and all rulers of the church in Prussia, but also
by the Holy Father in Rome, the Pope himself, on the 5th
February, 1875. Therefore, that we may not seem by our silence
to approve your evil action, we admonish you once by this
present letter, and this canonical admonition is equivalent to
three, that you make reparation within ninety days, reckoned
from the date of this letter, for the scandal you have raised;
that you retract in writing, in the presence of your deacon and
two witnesses, the recognition given by you to the said laws,
which writing will be sent to us by you, and that you will
conduct yourself from now on as is becoming a Catholic priest
and minister of Christ. On the other hand, should the
above-mentioned period of ninety days pass away without such
result, know then that, ipso facto, and
without further notice, you are suspended from your office until
you come to repentance and make proper reparation. Should you,
however, not repent, and do not reform, as we exhort you in the
Lord and beseech you through humble prayer to God, we shall be
forced to proceed against you with severe punishment.
“Done at Rome 8th July, 1876.
“MIECISLAUS KARDINAL LEDOCHOWSKI,
Archbishop of Gnesen and Posen.
“Rev. D. Julius Brenk,
“Pastor in Piaski, Archbishopric
Posen.”
Pastor Brenk has addressed a written answer to Count Ledochowski in
Latin, which, according to the exhibition of it made by Pastor Brenk to
the state government, runs as follows in translation:
Eminence: I received your letter of admonition
in Piaski, on the 8th of July last, and I have referred the same, as was
right and proper, to the high royal government for its
consideration.
