New-York tribune., 1904-09-27
cHrRcH Ayn srArE IN FRANcE.


The formerly contuma cous bishops appear to
be gamers. if nobody else is from the rupture
between France and Rome. II will be recalled
that the Bishop OF Laval and others declined TO
resign or 10 20 TO Rome without the consent OF
the French government. but did go to Rome ana
offer their designations as soon as diplomatic
relations between France and the Vatican were
suspended: also at that former time the request
Of the Bishop of Laval that he might, upon
resignation. be translated TO another diocese
was declined by the Pope on the ground that
the facts proved beyond dispute which made
him unit to be Bishop Of Laval made him
equally unfit 10 be bishop of any other see.
But now We are told the Pope will grant his
request and make him bishop In good stand
ing over some other diocese Apparently the
facts proved beyond dispute turn ont 10 be
untrue. after all or else the Holy Father is
much more Ienient and forgiving than he seemed
70 be a little time ago.
As for the other bishops In France. who are
mn t,rally much interested in the progress OF the
dispute between church and state. their views
Of the situation are varied The Bishop Of
Qumper and Leon. who presideS over a par
ticularly devout and faithful flock. thinks that
the complete separation OF church and state
will mean a loss 10 the church in numbers, but
a gain in faith and spiritual strength anG au-
thority. The loss Of the state subsidy will he
recouped by the contributions OF the faithful.
and these latter will increase as the 'persecu-
ton by civil authorities increases. that IL
the COncordat should bc abrogated and the per
secutiOn" should become severe. he would he
able 10 do as much for all his clergy as he now
does for oue-fourth Of them That is certainly
a heroic view Of the case, and we are not sure
hut that il is based upon strong probabilities
and supported by reason. Ii has always seemed
| To us probable, and more than probable. that
separation from politics would be to the spirit
ual advantage Of the church, not only in
France. but elsewhere. and II is simply tru-
ism that anything like persecution Increases the
vital energies and devotion Of any church that
is worth saving
far different view Is expressed by the
Bishop OF Troyes who. in a mediaval tone, de
plores the menace Of separation as something
that would be 'ruinouS both fer the church of
France and for, the country itself" That IS
partly. he adds because after separation the
state would not leave the church alone but
would certainly OppreSs and persecute IT, As
10 the latter assumption we feel doubtful; or
al any rate, we must believe that anything like
real oppression or persecution would be short
lived and would do the church little harm The
experiment. not OF actually depressing the
churcE but Of subiectlng IT, ns the church
deemed unduly, to the civil power, was made I'm
Germany by no less man than Bismarck him
self The result was that the Catholic Church
grew in Germany more rapidly than ever and
Bismarck presently went 10 Canossa Despjte
the forebodings of the Bishop of Trovps and
others Of his school. therefore, the impending
separation of church and state in France NAV
be regarded not only by disnterested outsId
ers but also by those directly concerned No
something not to be Stunned and resisted. bur
to be accepted as a part Of the general trend or
modern times. and as likely. on the whole. 20
he useful to the better interests of both parties