The Cairo bulletin., 1905-12-18
CHURCH READY TO
MEET SITUATION
Studied Effects to Follow AbrO.
cation OF ConCordat.
POPE HAS BEEN SILENT
BUT HIS SILENCE CANNOT BE
CONSTRUED TO MEAN THAT
He HAS NEGLECTED
AFFAIRS.

Rome, Dec. 17--Now that the bill of
separation between church and state
+, in France has been finally passed by
the French parliament general curios.
ity Is aroused to know how the Pope
will act in the face OF an accomplished
fact
! Plus x has been very silent all
these wej~y mcnths regarding the
situation in France. but his silence
cannot be construed as a neglect of
the situation. for, as a matter of fact,
he took special pains to keep well in
formed all along as 10 the coalitions
| made to the church in France and has
recently appointed a special commits
sion of Cardinals to make a study Of
the effect the new arrangements
adopted by the French parliament will
have on the church in France, The
commission has been gathering infor-
nation from many Of the French pre-
lates and clergy and Is now In posi-
/ ton to submit to the Pope a report
detailing what measures the Holy See
ought to adopt to meet the situation
in order to protect the church inter.
ests in France in the best possible
manner.
| The details of this plan cannot be
completed before the French govern
ment adopts the additional admlnistra-
tive rules intended for the faithful OBJ.
servanca Of the laws just passed. as
4 is feared here that many OF these
rules of the administration will be
like the organic articles added to the
Concordat after ii was signed, and will
Lessen. the effect Of whatever measures
were contained In the bill favoring the
rights Of the church. Until the next
fOftiiese admin stratiye rules has slsssi
made public the Vatican authorities
will not be In position to advise the
French clergy how they are to act In
accord with the new laws adopted In
France excepting on general lines.
II has been decided at the Vatican
to encourage the members Of the sew
eral parishes In France to organize
the associations. which. according to
the provisions of the new law arc
TO take over the title to all the prop.
erty OF the church IN France, and
great caution has been recommended
TO the bishops and clergy to see that
no unworthy or doubtful Catholics
should join such associations. Every
one OF the desirable members has
been made 90 .dgn an agreement which
spec fically states THAI M admins
trative act ~ the associations to be
formed would be valid without the
consent of the bishop of the diocese
or Of the priests duly authorized by
him aud in communion with the head
of the church In Rome. This has al
ready been dcne 10 prevent the pos
sibilitv Of laymen getting absolute
control OF the church property and
being placed In position TO dictate
TO the church authorities.
The tremendous financial loss which |
the French church will sustain by the
active oDersi'on cf the new law.
which will ultimately deprive the
church In F-ance of yearly income |
of nearly ts.00O.0 900. has been already |
partially remedled by the Vatican /
authohities. who have advised that
every Catholic Joining then ew asso-
Citations should pledge himself 10 con-
tribute a certain amount every year
10 the support OF the clergy Of his
parish. In several dloceses the amount
pledged has already proved TO be
much more than the clergy Of the
parish received from she state. aud
then there is TO be considered the fact
Ihaf nearly all the priests Of France
viii be In receipt Of pensions. some
Ior four or eight wears. according 10
he prov's sions Of the new Law. and
Jthers during the time Of their
natural life. The financial condition OF
he church In France after the with
travail Of tho state sa!aries takes
place does not worry the Vatican IN
he least. as 10 the present age the
,hurch is most prosperous In the coun-
ries where Il does not receive any L
sss stance from the state
Cardinal Del Val the Papal Secre-
AIRY Of state. In an intervisw just
granted 20 co:respon5ont Il the
echo De Paris. says.
''Th" French modsrsies. the patient
'atholics. must decide for energy. dis
.ipline AMI ac'lOn. All the evil ths'
Ia happened is the consequence of
heir apathy and weakness They must 2
eek and prepare the practical means Z
4 defense adapted 70 their surround {
ngs and resources