European liberals did not sympathize with the Irish Catholic movement. Daniel O’Connell fought for the freedom of the Church and against the errors of the French Revolution. In this struggle, he exclusively used legal means. He always avoided the revolutionary and violent methods so common in Europe at the time. These standards … Read more
In 1829, Ireland had 6,800,000 inhabitants, of whom only 800,000 were Protestants. Nevertheless, the Catholics were obliged to pay the expenses of Anglican worship and clergy upkeep, while Catholic priests lived off the charity of the faithful. On the other hand, this poor and weather-beaten region created conditions that made it difficult … Read more
In 1823, the cardinals gathered to elect Pius VII’s successor. They were divided into two main currents. The conservative “zealots” bore this name that indicated their orientation. The “moderates” supported Ercole Cardinal Consalvi’s less stringent positions. In addition to these traditional groups, Austrian Prince and Diplomat Klemens von Metternich tried to organize … Read more