Non Expedit (Latin for "It is not expedient") were the words with which the Holy See enjoined upon Italian Catholics the policy of boycott from the polls in parliamentary elections.[1]
Historyedit
The phrase, "it is not expedient," has long been used by the Roman curia to indicate a negative reply for reasons of opportunity.
The papal policy was adopted after the promulgation of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Italy (1861), and the introduction of laws relating to the Catholic Church and, especially, to the religious orders (1865–66). The Holy Penitentiary made a decree on 29 February 1868 sanctioning the Non expedit. Until then, there had been in the young Italian Parliament a few eminent representatives of Catholic interests, like Augusto Conti and Cesare Cantù.[1]
Pius IX declared in an audience of 11 October 1874 that the principal motive of this decree was that the oath taken by deputies might be interpreted as an approval of the 'spoliation of the Holy See'.[1]
In parts of Italy (Parma, Modena, Tuscany, the former Pontifical States and the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies), some Catholics were supporters of the dispossessed princes and they were liable to be denounced as enemies of Italy. They would also have been at variance with the Catholics of Piedmont and of the provinces that were part of Habsburg Austria, and this division would have further weakened the Catholic Parliamentary group.[1]
This measure did not meet with universal approval; moderates accused the Vatican of failing in its duty to society and to the newly unified country.[1]
In 1882, the suffrage having been extended, Leo XIII considered abolishing the restrictions established by the Non Expedit, but nothing was done.[2]
On the contrary, as many people came to the conclusion that the decree Non Expedit was not intended to be absolute, but was only an admonition made to apply upon one particular occasion, the Holy Office declared (30 December 1886) that the rule in question implied a grave precept, and emphasis was given to this fact on several subsequent occasions (Letter of Leo XIII to the Cardinal Secretary of State, 14 May 1895; Congregation of Extraordinary Affairs, 27 January 1902; Pius X, Motu proprio, 18 December 1903).[1]
Later Pius X, by his encyclical "Il fermo proposito" (11 June 1905) modified the Non Expedit, declaring that, when there was question of preventing the election of a "subversive" candidate, the bishops could ask for a suspension of the rule, and invite the Catholics to hold themselves in readiness to go to the polls. (See Giacomo Margotti.)[1]
^ abcdefg One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Non Expedit". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^Archiv Für Katholisches Kirchenrecht vol. 84 (in German). 1904. p. 396.
December 18, 2023
expedit, latin, expedient, were, words, with, which, holy, enjoined, upon, italian, catholics, policy, boycott, from, polls, parliamentary, elections, history, editthe, phrase, expedient, long, been, used, roman, curia, indicate, negative, reply, reasons, oppo. Non Expedit Latin for It is not expedient were the words with which the Holy See enjoined upon Italian Catholics the policy of boycott from the polls in parliamentary elections 1 History editThe phrase it is not expedient has long been used by the Roman curia to indicate a negative reply for reasons of opportunity The papal policy was adopted after the promulgation of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Italy 1861 and the introduction of laws relating to the Catholic Church and especially to the religious orders 1865 66 The Holy Penitentiary made a decree on 29 February 1868 sanctioning the Non expedit Until then there had been in the young Italian Parliament a few eminent representatives of Catholic interests like Augusto Conti and Cesare Cantu 1 Pius IX declared in an audience of 11 October 1874 that the principal motive of this decree was that the oath taken by deputies might be interpreted as an approval of the spoliation of the Holy See 1 In parts of Italy Parma Modena Tuscany the former Pontifical States and the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies some Catholics were supporters of the dispossessed princes and they were liable to be denounced as enemies of Italy They would also have been at variance with the Catholics of Piedmont and of the provinces that were part of Habsburg Austria and this division would have further weakened the Catholic Parliamentary group 1 This measure did not meet with universal approval moderates accused the Vatican of failing in its duty to society and to the newly unified country 1 In 1882 the suffrage having been extended Leo XIII considered abolishing the restrictions established by the Non Expedit but nothing was done 2 On the contrary as many people came to the conclusion that the decree Non Expedit was not intended to be absolute but was only an admonition made to apply upon one particular occasion the Holy Office declared 30 December 1886 that the rule in question implied a grave precept and emphasis was given to this fact on several subsequent occasions Letter of Leo XIII to the Cardinal Secretary of State 14 May 1895 Congregation of Extraordinary Affairs 27 January 1902 Pius X Motu proprio 18 December 1903 1 Later Pius X by his encyclical Il fermo proposito 11 June 1905 modified the Non Expedit declaring that when there was question of preventing the election of a subversive candidate the bishops could ask for a suspension of the rule and invite the Catholics to hold themselves in readiness to go to the polls See Giacomo Margotti 1 The papal policy was cancelled in 1918 citation needed Sources edit a b c d e f g nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Non Expedit Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Archiv Fur Katholisches Kirchenrecht vol 84 in German 1904 p 396 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Non Expedit amp oldid 1186627807, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
