Apostate priest, born Viterbo, Italy, 1803. He was suspended by ecclesiastical authorities for immorality, and later imprisoned by the pontifical government for revolutionary agitation. He gave anti-Catholic lectures in London; exposed by J. H. Newman (afterwards cardinal) he brought a libel action in 1852, in which Newman was fined £100, owing to the anti-Catholic prejudices of the judges. Achilli afterwards became utterly discredited (Ward, "Life of Newman"), and the incident caused a revulsion in favor of Newman.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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