The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-06

Ing his base OF supplies from tho seobonrd to
within convenient reach Of his work.
France and the Vatican.
During the last year the warfare against
Catholicism begun by GAxBxrrA hes been
somewhat relaxed, but 1t 10 likely to break
out with explosive violence on the downfall
Of the present Cabinet. Whether n. FERRY
10 succeeded bys moro radical member Of
tho Republican Union. or by . represents
two Of the still moro advanced opinions hold
by NJ. CLEMENCEAU, the change will probably
be followed by measures intended to deprive
the Church Of all the privileges and all the
influence which It still retains In France
Yet tho programmes Of tho two parties into
which the enemies Of Catholicism are d.
vided are sharply distinguished, as will be
made clear by contrasting the avowed aims
OF men like N. CLEMENcEAu with tho plans
Of N. PAUL BERT, Of which full account
has recently been given by the author him
self In London review.
TheprOblem presented by the relation Of
Church and State in France would be solved
by II. CLEMHNcEAU in simple and trenchant
way by breaking OF all connection between
religion and the civil power. He would abol-
ish tho ConcOrdat, and have the State de-
ny not only support, but every species Of
recognition, to all religious organizations.
He imaginos that he would thus deal the
Catholic Church fatal blow, It being taken
for granted that the peasants, who con.
stitute the majority Of the French peo-
pie outside Of the cities and large
towns, would refuse to pay the direct and
voluntary contributions upon which the
priesthood, in tho absence Of Government sti-
ponds, would have to rely. This assumption
Is probably Ill founded. There Is nc reason
to suppose that human nature Is different in
France from what 1t is observed to DO in
other countries, and experience has shown
that Catholicism Is quito able to survive the
loss Of State support. Notwithstanding the
harsh pressure Of the British Government
and the extreme poverty OF its adherents, It
retained It's hold mistaken upon three
fourths Of ireland, and In our own time It
has experienced o remarkable revival
in England itself. But tho astonishing
growth and singular prosperity Of the
Catholic Church In the United States
supply conclusive proof that q religious
languish because its ministers depend for
their maintenance on the spontaneous Offer
ings Of the faithful Unless. therefore. events
In France should contradict all precedents,
the separation Of Church and State would,
after some temporary Inconvenience In.
volvsd In the readjustment Of things to new
conditions. leave Catholicism 40 strong a.
ever, and naturally moro embittered than
before against the political party which had
done It's best to ruin 1t.
NJ. PAUL BERT. the former Minister Of
Public instruction and Worship, aud tho
probable occupant Of the same Office in the
next Radical Cabinet, Is quite Is hostile to
Catholicism as is NJ. CLEMENcEAU, but he is
q more astute and dangerous enemy. He
knows that State Church Is from one point
Of view crippled Church, and that the sys-
TEN OF Government stipends Ia at once q
prop and gag. He sees that by withdraw
ing from priests their salaries, and placing
them on precisely the same footing with
other citizens, he would set them free to
exercise the right enjoyed by every citizen.
that, namely Of rebuking and opposing
the Government. Instead, therefore, of
annulling the Concordat, he would en-
force 1t, but he would reduce 1t to
the rigid terms of the agreement
made In 1901 between the Pope and BONA
PARTE, then First Consul, and adopted by
the French Chambers In the following year.
BY this convention, known as the Concordat.
the French Government bound itself to sup
port only the Bishops. whose number was
reduced to 81. and the cures. or established
rectors Of important parishes, of whom there
are only about 1850 in all France. It did not
agree to pay the desservants or incumbents
licensed by Bishops, who onlciate In the ru-
raj parishes, and form the great majority
Of the working clergy. As matter Of fact,
the first grant for Catholic worship
made In pursuance of the Concordat
did not reach 100000. The State,
moreover, reserved the right Of nominating
the Bishops, who In turn were to nominate
the cures. but the latter could not oficiste
without Government approval. Again, the
Concordat made no mention Of religious IS.
sociations. all Of which had been prohibited
In 1872, but some of which have during the
present century been recognized by legisla.
tive or administrative ordinances. Such
finally, were the straits In which the Vatican
then found itself. that Its consent was finally
extorted to provision subjecting tho exercise
OF religion to whatever police regulations the
Government might deem necessary for the
public peace. It was In professed applica.
ton OF the right thus conceded that BONA.
PARTE annexed to the Concordat the so-called
Organic Articles, which the Papacy has
steadily refused to recognize, on tho ground
hat lakn v~trtk .,R
and that. stripping the priesthood OF all spir'
neutrality-suspicious.. they aim to convert 1t Into
q slave and tool Of the civil power. The
truth IL that BoNAPARrE himself never un
dertook to enforce the most severe and odi
GUS OF these regulations. and most Of then
have long since fallen into desuetude.
We can understand, then, why Catholics
feel no special gratitude to NJ. PAUL BERT