CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND BULL-FIGHTS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the Spectator of June 2nd appears a letter by "A. N.," headed " Catholic Priests and Bull-Fights." The writer states that "while in Rome a few months ago he read a decree then recently issued by the Pope relative to bull-fights, the two chief points being—(1), a prohibition against any eccle- siastic being present under any circumstances at a bull-fight ; (2), a prohibition against any priest absolving or giving any spiritual consolation of any kind to a man injured during the performance,—even in articulo mortis. There were plenty of ecclesiastics present apparently at the recent bull-fight, and the great matador died fortified by all the rites of the Church."
So long ago as the spring of 1839, while staying in Seville, I was invited to partake of the mid-day meal at the house of a priest on the Sunday on which a grand bull-fight was to take place. My friend and companion, who was on intimate terms with the priest, on learning that he proposed to accom- pany us to this bull-fight, remarked, "Surely, you are not serious, as I understand that priests never attend bull-fights; in fact, that they are strictly forbidden to do so." "Quite right," said our host, "but I am now going up to my room to change my dress,—it is our dress that must not be seen in the amphitheatre ; " and that is bow we read the prohibition. At any rate, our host went with us, and evidently thoroughly enjoyed his day. Fortunately, nobody in the arena was killed, so I cannot speak to the second point. I am not a Roman Catholic, and know nothing beyond the fact related.—I am,
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