New-York tribune., 1901-01-13

astical superiors
INDEPENpENCE OF THE BISHOPS
The dioccsans. from the venerable Cardinal
Richard. Archbishop Of Paris and Primate oil
France, downward. are, to a man. tniinical To the
republic. and in favor Of the restoration OF a
monarchy m France. Some Bonapartists
Others. like Cardinal Richard. are devoted to the
royalist cause Iut All give their active support
To- th,. foes of thu present system of government
in IN. belief that under a king or emperor
they would enjoy a greater degree of pres
tic.. and power than now falls To- their share
They drc encouraged. moreover, in their boldly
hostile attitude to the republic by the kno~l-
edge. that because of the terms of the con
cor,.at between France and the Papacy they can
afford to manifest "A good deal Of Independence.
The Government has difficulty To maintain any
kind "f discipline among the bishops, ana
has no power of removing a diocesan from
his diocese. even when ne may have been
guilty Of acts of open enmity 10 the duly
constituted Government of France. If the Gov
ernInent has cause complain "f the Bishop
of any French diocese ii is obliged To convey its
demands for his dismissal to the Pope through
its Ambassador at the Vatican The Pope and
his cardinals Investigate the affair, and if the
Holy Father condemns the bishop he can sus-
pend him from office and appoint a Vicar Apos-
toIic to administer the in his name. But
not even the Pope can appoint another Bishop
until the offending prelate either dies or volun-
tariIy resigns. II the Pope declines I" interfere
or To- suspend the Kishnp, the latter remains az
the head of his diocese invested with all his
episcopal prcr Satives and functions, free I"
continue 10 defy the French Government. All
that the latter can 90 is To stop the bishops
stipend and that is minor consideration. since
moi easily ht
repI:tced by thr Vatican If. 10y the wealthy
religious orders. hose real estate possessions
i'm France are valued at over 1.1uuWoo,onp
francs or 10y the monarchical party. in who's"
behalf the prclitr is working. Not only are the
bishops prompted To hostility IL the Govern
ment 10y TIN. knowledge that they are virtually
independent Of the latter from the moment they
are invested with the mitre, but also 10y reali-
zation Of the enormous influence welded by the
religious orders at Rome. to which they have To
look for any further advancement.
The hostility Of the religious orders To the
public is largely due To the conviction that they
would enjoy far greater freedom and privileges
i'm France were the country to he IA mlnarchy.
Though I'm many senses democratic. the religious
orders of the old World have been too closely
Identified with everything monarchicaI not to
be looked upon with distrust 10y ii republic such
as that of France. The republic fears the
growth of the wealth. the power and the innu-
ence of the orders. convinced that they viii! he
used To its detriment. II has, therefore, never
ceased to manifest ill will toward them since
the overthrow of the Empire. The orders are.
fully of the sentiments of the Govern
ment toward them, and. knowing that they
have nothing but enmty to expect from the
present French administration, and that it is
disposed to combat all their educational schemes
and other enterprises. are naturally devoting
their energies to bring about the downfall Of
the republic.