In his anxiety to help her he committed the unwarrantable act of seizing money belonging to one of the churches, and using it for the Government.
The Church protested against this robbery, but the minister declared that the Government must have the money she needed, and, in spite of the indignation of the churchmen, proceeded to take it.
Finding that they could get no help from the Government, the members of the church appealed to the Bishop who had charge of the district in which the plundered church was situated.
The anger of this bishop knew no bounds. He would not allow the Church to be so shamefully robbed, and sent an angry demand to the minister that he refund the money instantly.
Señor Reverter declined to do so, saying that the country had need of it, and upon his refusal the Bishop, without more ado, excommunicated him.
Excommunication is a terrible punishment to inflict on any one. It means that the sinner cannot enjoy any of the privileges of the Church, and that he is forbidden all its comforts and blessings. Further than that, it almost amounts to boycotting (see p. 998), for all churchmen who do business with an excommunicated man, or serve him, are put under the ban of the Church, and become outcasts with him. So that at one blow a man loses friends and servants, and even has difficulty in getting food and clothing.
It is said that the Pope was extremely angry with the bishop for having taken such a serious step without first consulting him.
This power of the Church is very rarely exercised, and while a bishop has the right to inflict this punishment on a member of his flock, he is not supposed to do so without first consulting with the Pope, especially when important personages are involved.
His Holiness was therefore most exasperated to find that the bishop of Majorca had ventured on such a step without his permission. He has, however, no ground for refusing to uphold the bishop, so the sentence will have to stand, but it is rumored that he intends to show his displeasure by removing the bishop to another diocese where the work will be harder, and the income not so large.
Napoleon Bonaparte was excommunicated by Pope Pius VII. in 1809, but since that time the punishment has hardly ever been inflicted, and it is thought that at the present time, when Spain is in so much trouble, the bishop should have sought some less severe measure to bring the minister to terms.