NationStates Jolt Archive

Cardinal Primate Ashveer Waleeir had seen many events in his long life of seventy years. He had seen the fall of the Aerionian Catholic Church almost in its entirety at the suppression and killings by the fascist government of the New Aerionian Order, and dictator Divine Emperor years back. Then the following invasion by several Catholic nations which resulted in an ineffective military government, which did not stem the tide of the remaining surviving Catholics leaving Aerion entirely and never returning during the time of the rise of the Second Monarchy and King Wasterin X who restored the nation after fascist rule. The Aerionian Catholic Church had once been very strong, having almost 30% of the population at that time, with many actively participating and identifying themselves as Catholic. The culture of the laity was strong. Now it was only slowly growing again.

The Cardinal Primate was an native Eastern Aerionian, an aged seventy year old man, an man who had been in his youth an Franciscan. His hard work ethic, and surprising knowledge of real politic helped him rise to the position of the Diocese of Alsern prior to the fascist government. He had regrettably had to flee his diocese during the fascist government to southern Aerion. He returned after the terrible persecution of Catholics, a very painful time for all Catholics as their buildings, and even they themselves were persecuted on an near genocidal scale. Because the previous Primate had been killed by the fascists, and other approximate candidates for the Primacy of Aerion and the Archdiocese of Astevane had either been killed or fled the country, Cardinal Ashveer was the obvious choice.

So he had been granted authority over an largely collapsed church, though with still four to five percent of the population of the Grand Kingdom being Catholic. The problem was the lack of funding, the lack of resources, and the lack of everything that the Church had suffered after most of its assets in the Grand Kingdom were destroyed or taken during the fascist government. Cathedrals had been reduced to rubble, and many were still not rebuilt. Most of the several dozen dioceses had now only Titular Bishops, their not being enough laity or clergy to support the majority of the dioceses. The situation in Western Aerion was particularly grim where the majority of the population were atheistic or Buddhist, the underground communist movement there did not help either.

The Cardinal placed his face in his hands, as he sat at his desk in the Archdiocese Headquarters in the Royal District of Astevane. He had even thought of selling this headquarters, an rather small former palace centered by a courtyard. Real estate taxation was outrageous in the Royal District because the Royal Government had tried to keep it exclusive, but the Cardinal hoped Prince Damoen as he had heard rumors would soon offer more tax breaks for religious institutions.

His predecessors had had extensive contacts among the political, and social elite in prior governments of Aerion before the fascist government quiet some years back though now that was all gone with almost an entirely new society built by King Wasterin X, and now Crown Prince Damoen. Some of the families had managed to sneak back into power from prior governments, but the new social elite were marked by their greed as many were corporate executives or major shareholders. The Cardinal would have to deal with these people, as much as he disdained it. His predecessors also often slipped into immorality, and even debauchery along with others as whatever elite was in power seemed to always be marked by decadence in the Grand Kingdom. He would certainly do nothing of the sort.

Now Cardinal Ashveer was forced to contact many of these men, and have personal meetings with them in order to attempt to secure funding from hopefully some Aerionian billionaire. His first step would be to convert them. The majority were either consumed with greed or simply atheistic as many of the elite were. He had to battle the fact that some of the elite dabbled in occultism, some were atheistic Orient Freemasons, and their interest in the Church was to gain access to restricted libraries. His other attempts were to make more social contacts in the Royal Government in order to secure at least some influence. He knew from what he had that Prince Damoen was a good man, an Buddhist though, and from what he knew he did not even believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior or even God.

The Cardinal felt as if he were fighting some heresy in the form of Quakerism, which was the most predominant Christian denomination of Aerion and was loathe to cooperate with Quaker leaders. He was a traditionalist in this respect, and though he believed in some cooperation did not like divergent Christian belief systems from the true body of Christ on Earth.

He felt more relation, though barely, to the Eastern Orthodox Church in Aerion which was the Orthodox Church of Constantinople under Patriarch Stephanus III. Yet still he was sad that the schismatics had lost their way.

So in his view the state of Christianity in the Grand Kingdom, and the true body of Christ on Earth that was the Roman Catholic Church in the Grand Kingdom was in a very sad state of affairs.

Father Rostark Valski S.J., a Jesuit priest and personal assistant to the Cardinal Primate stood in the outer office wearing the more traditional cassock of an Jesuit priest, an unusual custom for many modern Jesuits who no longer wear the long buttonless casock as Rostark does

Auxiliary Bishop Daveru Malteurn entered the outer room of the Cardinal Primate’s office, he wore the purple trimmed cassock with sash around his waist of a Bishop, and the purple zucchetto or headcap. He was an man in his fifties, an Eastern Aerionian with brown eyes. He was a titular Bishop, as accorded to his position as an Auxiliary Bishop assisting the Archbishop of Astevane, and therefore assisting the Primate of Aerion.

Cardinal Primate Ashveer sat at his desk, wearing the red trimmed cassock, shoulder covering, and red zuchetto of a Cardinal. He glanced up from where his face was resting in his hands as his assistant, Father Rostark came in to announce the Auxiliary Bishop “His Grace Bishop Malteurn is here to see you, Your Eminence.” The Cardinal nodded, “Show him in.” With that, the Auxiliary Bishop Daveru Malteurn stepped in.

The men knew each other well but the etiquette the Cardinal Primate preferred in his office was slightly more formal, such as the formality at least in public of the Grand Kingdom’s high society, especially here in the Royal District.

Bishop Malteurn nodded, “Your Eminence.” To which the Cardinal nodded in return, “Your Grace, have a seat.” He gestured to one of the two comfortable but old seats in front of his desk.

The more elderly Cardinal Primate began to speak, “My reason for calling you in here, Bishop Malteurn, is that I wished to go over some new plans that have been in my mind for quiet some time. Dioceses throughout the northern, and eastern provinces are reporting a large growth in attendance, and new baptism as well as several converts. You have read the new statistics released by the Institute of Public Religion? Almost ten percent of Aerionians are Catholic, that is several million. Grand statistics supported by our own rolls, are they not?”

Bishop Malteurn nodded, smiling slightly “Yes, those statistics are most definitely inspiring, glory to God in the highest. No doubt supported by the fact that many of these dioceses finally reported their memberships now that after several years the nation is truly stable under Royal Government.”

The Cardinal Primate clasped his hands together on the desk, “Yes, I have been encouraging the Archbishops to release these numbers as we can feel, after these past several years, that the Royal Government has brought stability, and peace to Aerion. Peace enough for the Church to once again operate as normal without fear of persecution, as with the fascists. Now is the time to secure the Church‘s future in Aerion even further, and for this I turn to you Bishop Malteurn.”

The Cardinal spoke in instructive tone, “You have shown a proficiency in keeping an social network among the high society socialites, and politicians here in the Royal District. I heard you had luncheon with the Lord High Justice the other day, though I understand the man is not Catholic.”

Bishop Malteurn replied, “Your Eminence, the Lord High Justice is a man of good faith, whom is in fact a Christian, the victim of his position and rank in society. I have spoken to him at length about his faith, and his views on the laws in the Grand Kingdom. While he abhors the state of morality in Aerionian society, he states that he can do nothing about it, for corruption reaches into the highest parts of the government…as you know…as we all know. It is not a secret what goes on at the Great Baths. Though the high society flaunts a façade of propriety. When corruption is in the highest levels of a society, it affects the character of an entire nation.”

Cardinal Waleeir sighed somewhat, “Yes, but not even this man is willing to be converted to our Church? It is good that he is a Christian, but we need Catholics in the Royal Government. This is why I am speaking to you, Bishop.” He tapped his hand on his desk in emphasis, “We must have Catholics in the higher levels of government, or we cannot hope for the security of the future of the Church, or even the future of the nation”

Bishop Malteurn sighed deeply, knowing what the Cardinal wished was a feat in itself. “But Your Eminence, you must know how the people are. This society has been long deep in sin. The sins of paganism, of lust. Among the elite of this nation are some of the worst heresies. Secret societies that resemble cults, pagan mysteries, Freemasonry. It is not just that they are irreligious, they have heretical beliefs. And I use heresy in the most seriousness, it is not a word I say lightly. Surely you have heard that the Cult of Gethsenes, that demonic goddess of ancient times in Aerion, extends still into the Royal Palace itself with what it is said that the Princess Ameri……”

The Cardinal suddenly banged his wrinkled hand on the desk almost judicially, “Your Grace! You know better than to state such accusations about the Royal Family or any member thereof, for we could forever lose any potential favor we might hope to gain. I do not believe them.” He shook his head slightly.

Bishop Malteurn sighed, shaking his head, knowing not to argue with the Cardinal who he had long known. “I understand, Your Eminence. I just state that the elite of this nation are not receptive to the teachings of the Church, or even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ himself.”

The Cardinal leaned back into his throne-like chair, the elderly man speaking commanding “I am taking you off some of your duties so that you may adjust your schedule to attend as many appropriate social events as you are able….I want you to attempt to gain regular access to the Royal Palace. You know the Lord High Justice, as an Great Officer of State he should be able to help you gain access, and introduce you to others yes?

Bishop Malteurn shook his head, “Your Eminence, it is not that simple as you must know. I do not have any social precedent at the Royal Court, the courtiers would never accept me. I do not always get a good reception at social occasion even when I do attend. It is not so simple. “

Cardinal Waleeir leaned forward, “Your Grace, this is your duty to the Church. You must gain precedent, somehow, at the Royal Court. You must further the cause of the Church, as those many Cardinals and Bishops at courts of times past did.” He pauses a moment before speaking most serious words, “My goal…I pray for from the depth of my heart, is that the Crown Prince himself will be converted to our great faith and will be coronated and anointed in an Catholic manner.”

Bishop Malteurn himself now fell silent, almost shocked by the Cardinal’s request. It seemed a far off dream, something that he had never thought possible. He had known how to politic, for he rose from priest to Bishop in the minimum required years. It was almost an impossibility, in his eyes, that the Crown Prince could be converted. Especially after the Crown Prince’s conversion to Makan Buddhism, and personal meetings with the High Lama.

Before the Bishop could even give an word of refusal, the Cardinal began speaking.

The Cardinal spoke almost gravely, “The people of Aerion are lost, Godless, with no belief in Jesus Christ. It is our role not only to look after the faithful, but to bring new souls into the flock. For this, we need men of power to grow in faith, and to join the Church. God blesses us, but we must carry out his will. This is why we need the Crown Prince to be converted.”

The Cardinal looked upon the Bishop intently, with an commanding presence, and eyes.

Bishop Malteurn was less supernaturally inclined than the Cardinal had become in his old age, he was a practical man, one that had some faith in God but had seen the politics of the Church, and knew that God’s hand was not in everything and that the actions of men could, and did bring about their success or otherwise. He was never one for the more spiritual inclinations, he was solely religious.

He cleared his throat, shifting his hands from the lap of his purple cassock to stroke his chin with one hand, “You ask something that may be beyond my means, Your Eminence, but as I have served the Church faithfully for these many years, and greatly respected your authority I will try as I may to at some point gain access to the Crown Prince, and speak to him personally.”

The Cardinal nodded, resting his arms on the armrest of the throne-like chair, “Then you accept this mission of the Church, very good.”

A Bishop's Beginning

Bishop Malteurn had been assigned by the Cardinal Primate to spread the faith hopefully through Aerion’s high society, the highest in fact, the Royal Court.

The Bishop was a man of some faith, but had also been a man of real politik. He was a master of persuasion. If he had entered secular life at a younger age, he may have been an powerful politician or corporate executive by now. Though because of his family’s values, and having seen the opportunity inherent in the clergy to rise above the mediocrity of his working class family he had joined the Church. This was before the fascist government had risen to power, that destroyed the Church in Aerion, and before he had been through the numerous tribulations. Following the restoration of the Monarchy, he had been determined to be placed in the Archdiocese of Astevane and particularly in the Royal District so that he may influence the politics of the nation. He had found himelf still shut out by the largely agnostic or Non-Christian Royal Government, and High Society.

With all of this behind him, the Bishop rode in the Adinastat Motor Coach that had been loaned to him to use by the Archbishop, the expensive A£300,000 vehicle was necessary for one of his station to approach the Royal Palace in.