The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
POPE AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
Holy Father Apparently Has No Sympathy
with Royalist Intrigues.

What Is deemed by Catholics to be an i'm.
portant utterance OF the Pope is contained In
short letter to Mgr Servonnet. Archbishop Of
BourGes. France. under date OF May 20. which
has Just been made public The letter is adj
dressed to the Roman Catholics Of the French
republic. through the Archbishop OF Bourges,
and was In response to a ommun ication sent
by that prelate to tho Holy Father asking II the
Interpretation put upon late apostolic docu-
ments and letters by certain adherents Of the
Royaist party in France as being antagonistie
to democracy and tho republic was correct
The Archbishop wrote that a feeling had be-
come prevalent among the Royalists that or
position to the republic had the approval Of the
Sovereign Pontf. especially through mis-
conception OF the true meaning OF tho encyc.
cal on Americanism. as it was believed.
In his letter to the French prelate the Pope re-
peats the injunctions given in an address to the
French Catholics seven years ago. when he
counselled them to be faithful to the republic
and to do nothing looking toward its over
throw. He also referred to the principles OF
democracy as laid down in the encyclical
Rerum Novarum, the letter on labor. as still In
forco. No excuse will now be left. 1t is as.
serted. for any French Catholics or others Il
have any doubts az to the attitude OF the Holy
See toward the alleged intrigucs against the
French republic. which, it is said. have been
carried on ullHer tne RulSe OF the hntl-Setnltlo
agitation and Drcyfus persecution.
Following is tran Station OF the letter OF the
Pope to the Archbishop Of Bourges:
We have learned. not without sorrow. that
some, persons have altogether wrongly taken
occasion. from certain acts recently promul-
gated by the Apostolic See. to declare publicly
that we have changed our opinions AS regards
that course OF action on the Part OF French
Catholics in political and social matters which
we have from the first pointed out and have
never since ceased to incuc9tee, on every op.
portunty. We have depOred this the more,
venerable brother. since 1t tends to throw into
doubt turbulent spirits. and to recall them
from the right way. and it is a cause Of scandal
to those among you who endeavor in every
way to listen and submit themselves to our
ttons for their rule OF life, to work for religion
and country.
been published by us, they reintc entirely other
to dogma or to Christian discipline. and do not
touch in any degree the injunctjons which as
We have said. concern the course Of notion Of
Catholics among you. and are clearly con-
tn ned In the letter TO he French OF February,
1892, and IN the Encyc'ical Rerum Noyarum.
nothing in these injunctons has been changed,
and that rather the whole of them continue
With Tpdmashcd t3rGe for would not be-
from opinions which it mas adopted after ma
ture onsideration. and has incuIcated with
otherwise must be considered to inlet rash,y
no small injury on the Holy See.
These inJunctions. venerable brother. We
nation, TO declare anew: and we again exhort
French Catholics with all our power to follow
in every respect the advice and the warning
which we have SO often given for the common
good, and which we now desire to repeat even
more etrongly and. with perfect accord OF
guided. moved and united together by them
without DELAY
THAT our wishes may be granted. we impart
10 you and to your diocese. as evidence OF our
good will and m nuspIce OF divine favor the
apostolic benedction."