The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-08-23

/ Ponds nc
The first cry, so to speak, that went
up from all parts of France was that
Tehgion was absolutely necessary NJ
Portallis, a man of eminence. who was
! entrusted with the task of presenting
to the legislative body the grave oues-
ions involved in the restoration of So
cal order to the country. declared
Inc laws and morality will not slf
iic Inc law can only stay the up
ilLled arm; religion rules the heart
Inc conscience OF the nation mani
tested itself in most unn1istaltahia
manner. especially in respect to the
VITAL question of education. NJ Por-
tallS asserts that the voice of all good
clllZenS was heard in the departmental
assemblies proclaiming: The time has
come When theories must give way to
Facts. There can be no instruction
without education; there can be no
education without morality and reli-
glon, Then, RECALLING the marvellous
works accomplished by the Catholic
church among us, NJ Portals adds
catholic piety has founded and sus-
tanned our charitable institutions.
What have we done? After the gen
eral devastation, when we desired to
re-establish our hospitals, we recalled
those Christian virgins known as Sis
ters OF Charity. who generously devote
their lives to the service of distressed.
suffering and infirm humanity"
NJ Portals. summing up the situa-
ton, concludes that France cannot
deliberately abjure Christianity
without effacing the monuments of her
own glory. He then adds: There is no
religion better adapted to the prevail
ing conditions in all we'll governed
countries, nor more suited to the po-
Htical life Of all governments. 1t is
not the religion of a people, but of
man; II is not national but a world
wide, religion
Plus VII came to us, and, through
the Concordat, sealed the religious
peace. France resumed her centuried
national traditions, which had been
swept away by the tempest of the revo-
luton. Today Leo XIII comes to us in
the same spirit of love for our father
land. We have omitted no effort"
says Leo XIII, Ito accomplish for
France the work of pacification which
VIII secure for her incalculable advan-
tages, not only in the religious, but
likewise in the civil and political or
der. The French bishops share Leo
Kills desire to bring about harmony.
Thus do we respond, Mr. President. to
the wish you recently expressed in ref
erence TO the substance of animosities
ana the union of our dearly beloved
France. Respect for religious and civil
liberty viii bind mind to mind. and
heart to heart. If France is attached
to existing political institutions. and
we unhesitatingly recognize that she
Is she does not desire religious perse-
cution.
The Free Masons are INCREASINGLY at
work trying to create division bv at
lacking Christian institutions. AS for
US, Mr.. President, we will continue.
with Gods aid. to fulfill the duty of a
bishop-of a French bishop. We will
defend religious liberty; we will defend |
the liberty of the family in matters |
touching the education of children: we
will defend all legitimate liberties to |
which, as citizens, we are entitled. We
ask no privileges, but we demand that |
Catholics shall not be deprived of |
rights which they share in common |
with all French citizens. We are con-
WINGED that in acting in this way. we
shal! be working for the general paci-
hcation.
In closing this letter. we express as
our venerable predecessor Cardinal
Gullbert, before us expressed, the hone |
that France will never permit herself to
be despoiled of the sacred beliefs
which were the source of her strength.
and of her glory in the past, and which
placed her in the first rank among ma
TONS l commend, Mr.. President. these
grave considerations to your wisdom,
ana peg OF you to accept the expression
or my most respectful consideration.
FRANCIS CARDINAL RICHARD
Archbishop of Paris.
Paris, July 10, 1902