LIEBER, MAURIZIO. - Statesman and publicist, b. at Blankenheim on 1 Oct. 1790, d. at Kamberg on 29 Dec. 1860.
In 1831 he published in Frankfurt a vigorous writing in defense of ecclesiastical celibacy; a few years later he conducted an effective campaign against the Prussian government which had imprisoned the archbishop of Cologne, Msgr. von Droste-Vischering (Die Gefangenehmung des Erzbischofs von Köln und ihre Motive, Frankfurt 1837-1838). In the Parliament of Nassau and in the press he continued his battle in support of the Church and its rights; he took part as an expert on ecclesiastical questions in the bishops' conferences of Würzburg (1848) and of Freiburg (1851); he was one of the founders of the Katolischer Verein Deutschlands and presided over its Congresses of Breslau (1849) and of Salzburg (1857).
When a serious crisis between Church and State broke out in 1853 in the Rhenish provinces, he entered the struggle with a book that caused a great stir: In Sachen der oberrheinischen Kirchenprovinz (Freiburg im Br. 1853). Simultaneously with political and journalistic activity he concerned himself with social welfare and founded a hospital at Kamberg, in addition to various other charitable works. His son Ernst (1838-1902), following in his footsteps, was one of the leaders of the Catholic Party in the German Parliament.