Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/168

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148
OFFICIAL VISIT
[CH. X.

the cost of religious worship is equal to twice the expenses of the government. It will be seen by the above account that the clergy are no unimportant branch of the political establishment of Guatemala. There seems to be a very friendly understanding between them and the government, and the same exists amongst themselves, if we except, however, some difficulties that have arisen in the appointment of a bishop of San Salvador. The people of that state, conceiving it necessary to establish a bishoprick, appointed, without the consent of the Archbishop, the father Delgado to that function.

The Archbishop, having denied his sanction, and, in fact, having refused to ordain him, the matter was referred to the ecclesiastical Cabildo, who reported that the appointment was not lawful. The matter having then been discussed by the congress, it was agreed that it should await the decision of the Papal See, through the