Rome And The Laurent-Brasseur-Controversy: In the middle of the 19th century, the State-university of Ghent, in Belgium, had on his staff teachers showing strong rationalistic tendencies, especially professor Brasseur and professor H. Laurent. The catholic hierarchy looked on them with much displeasure and in December 1855 a violent incident flared up. It was said that Brasseur, whilst teaching natural law, had openly criticited the church. The ultramontanists claimed that the teaching at a state university had to conform with catholic ideas and wanted Brasseur disciplined.