Mitigation and Peace Laws Kulturkampf

pope leo xiii (c. 1898)

the political situation in europe volatile. perceived possible enemy hostile german unification under prussian leadership, austria , germany became friends , formed dual alliance in 1879. possibility of war france or russia became more remote. therefore, social , economical problems moved fore , bismarck’s attention gradually turned other topics deemed more threatening such increasing popularity of socialists or more important such questions of import duties. in these matters either not rely on support of liberals pursue goals or not sufficient form majority. bismarck had not been comfortable increasing ferocity of kulturkampf. concerning rise of centre party, laws had proven ineffective , counter productive. realized of no battling centre party , far separation of state , church concerend, had achieved more wanted.

in order garner support anti-socialist laws , protective trade tariffs, bismarck turned on liberals in search of new alliances. death of pius ix on 7 february 1878 opened door settlement catholic church. new pope, leo xiii pragmatic , conciliatory , expressed wish peace in letter prussian king on day of election followed second letter in similar vein same year.

bismarck , pope entered direct negotiations without participation of church or reichstag, yet without success. came pass falk, vehemently resented catholics, resigned on 14 july 1879, read peace offering vatican. decisive boost came in february 1880, when vatican unexpectedly agreed civic registry of clerics. kulturkampf wound down talks lead number of so-called mitigation , peace laws passed until 1887.

july 1880, first mitigation law reallowed government payments prussian dioceses , freed bishops swearing allegiance prussian laws. hereupon, 4 new bishops reinstated seats had been left vacant after death of former bishops. catholic associations involved in care of infirm readmitted.
1882 resumption of diplomatic relations between prussia (not germany) , vatican, had been cut in 1872
31 may 1882, second mitigation law allowed waiver of government exams clerics
july 1883, third mitigation law legalized religious actions of bishops , in cases king pardon deposed bishops. 280 expelled clerics pardoned.

on 29 september 1885, sign of peace, bismarck proposed pope arbiter in dispute spain caroline islands , accepted verdict in favour of spain. in gratitude great horror of catholics, pope awarded bismarck supreme order of christ, highest order of chivalry granted holy see. bismarck protestant ever receive award.

after further negotiations between prussia , vatican prussian parliament passed 2 additional laws amending of kulturkampf laws.

21 may 1886, first peace law amended of regulations in education standards , civic registry law of 11 may 1873 , state exams clerics (waiver in second mitigation law of 31 may 1882) totally abolished. episcopal-theological academies , seminaries theological studies @ these institutions readmitted. students allowed quartered in catholic boarding houses (konvikts). state acknowledged papal disciplinary powers , abolished royal court of justice ecclesiastical affairs
26 april 1887, second peace law readmitted orders except jesuits prussia

on 23 may 1887, pope declared “the struggle damaged church , of no state over”. mitigation , peace laws restored inner autonomy of catholic church while leaving key regulations , laws concerning separation of church , state in place (civic marriage, civic registry, religious disaffiliation, government school supervision, civic registry of clerics, ban of jesuits, pulpit law, state supervision of church assets, constitutional amendments , catholic section in ministry of culture not reintroduced).

the respective opposing parties in reichstag harshly criticized concessions made vatican , prussian government. windthorst , centre party dismayed @ being sidelined , not being consulted concessions pope made, e. g. ban on jesuits or civil registry of clerics. none of party’s major demands met. instead, pope sided bismarck on non-religious issues , pressured centre party support bismarck or @ least abstain, e. g. in matter of hotly debated septennat 1887 (7-year military budget). many liberals, falk, objected concessions bismarck made church.

the growth of centre party has been considered major setback bismarck although never publicly conceded. yet, in spite of strong catholic representation in reichstag, political power , influence of church in public sphere , political power reduced.

although germany , vatican officially @ peace after 1878, religious conflicts , tensions continued. @ turn of century, pope pius x announced encyclical pascendi dominici gregis, mounting new attacks on historical criticism of biblical texts , accommodation of catholicism modern philosophy, sociology or literature. of 1910, clerics had take oath against forms of modernism, requirement later extended teachers of catholic religion @ schools , professors of catholic theology resulting in intense political , public debates , new conflicts state.