The Irish standard., 1904-12-03
FUTURE OF CHURCH IN FRANCE.

The struggle in France which has
terminated in the abolition of the
Concordlt between that country and
the Pope seems to have been taken
more seriously by the French arch
bishops and bishops than the situa-
tion demands. 1t is probable that re-
ligion has suffered more in France
from the intolerant Intervention in re-
ligious affairs by such men as Combes
than all the benefits that have accrued
to it from state support Most of the
bitter struggles between the popes of
by-gone ages and temporal rulers have
originated out of the claim maintained
by temporal rulers to Interfere in
matters pertaining to the government
Of the church, and the discipline of it's
clergy within the jurisdiction of the
different rulers. Tie Intervention of
Premier Combcs in a matter pertain
ing solely to the discipline of French
bishops shows an intolerablc situation
III France from the standpoint of the
success of religion.
The population Of France as we'll
as other European countries is made
up of Il very large proportion Of very
poor people, people unable to contri-
butte to the cause Of religion. They
have nothing to give towards building
and maintaining schools, hospitals and
other institutions which are largely
supported in this country by church
organizations. The great masses of
the people in France have always de-
pended upon the church for material
aid as we'll as spiritual comfort. The
church in France has performed for
the people many Of the functions
which in this country are performed
by the state, the most notable one be-
ing that Of education. If the break
between church and state shall re-
suit in the French government refus-
ing to any longer pay the stipends
provided by the agreement entered in
to more than a hundred years ago, it
seems certain that a heavier burden
Of taxation shall result from such
change. The state will then have to
provide, at great cost, for Il system of
schools, and of necessity, it will
be many years before that system can
be brought up to the standard Of ex-
listing schools. 1t is also certainty
that the state cannot care for the ma
terial wants Of the very poor as can
the church. On the other hand, it is
not at all certain that the church will
suffer by the change. It's work in
educational and charitable lines may
be restricted, for time ut least, but
it is hard for an American to under
stand how the church which has
made such phenomenal strides in this
country without government aid
would fail to secure sufficient support
from a people which is practically all
Catholic. The New York Sun, COM
menting upon this feature Of the
French situation, says:
When the abolition Of the Concor-
dat between France and the papacy
now resolved upon by the Combes
ministry was first mooted seriously,
the French archbishops and bishops
We're requested to say what, in their
opinion, would be the effect of such
measure upon Catholicism. Most Of
the replies were despondent, but few
prelates took hopeful view of the
future, pointing out the astonishing
progress made in the United States
by the Roman Catholic church during
the last half century. Here not only
do the Catholic episcopate and priest
hood receive no aid from the federal
or state governments, and must rely
exclusively on voluntary contribu-
tons, but Catholics, like all other citi-
zens, are taxed for the support of secu-