Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-10
POPE REJECTS PROPOSALS
French Nation Is Now Facing an Alarming
Religious Crisis.
PRIESTS ORDERED TO CONTINUE SERVICES
Clergy Are Forbidden to Make Dec
IRrHtiOns and Instructed to stay
in Churches Until They
Are Driven out.

PARIS, Dec. 9-France tonight seems to
face an alarming religious crisis. Last
nights report OF the popes eleventh hour
rejection Of the governments final proffer
under which Catholic worship could be
continued under the common laws turns
out to be only too true and the deadlock
now is apparently complete According to
the holy fathers orders, declarations under
the law OF 1881 are prohibited, but the
parish priests must remain in their churches
until driven out by violence.
| The official confirmation OF this COM
munication has created a sensation, both
In government and Catholic circles. Car
dinal LecOt archbishop OF Bordeaux, Arch
bishop Germain and others, who already
had advised compliance with the law, have
hastily instructed the parish priests OF
/ their diOceses that their former advice is
null and void, and today In all the churches
OF Paris bishops and priests, after mass.
read the letter from Cardinal Richard,
archbishop Of Paris, communicating the
decision Of the holy see to continue serv-
ices in the churches, but abstain from
declaration" and Cardinal Richards own
/ Instructions, in view of the order issued
| by the prefect Of the Seine yesterday not
/ to permit for the present, the employment
! Of ceremonial draperies at marriages or
funerals
The church ardents, whose legal existence
expires next Tuesday, were thanked today
from the pulpits Of the various churches
| Prayers were offered for the protection OF
God during the coming period Of persecu-
tion.
summons TO Rebellion.
The government regards the action of the
pontin as little less than a summons Of the
French Catholics to open rebellion, as
rendering the situation exceedingly grave
and possibly entaiIing the most deplorable
consequences.
Premier C1emenceau and NJ BRAND
minister OF public worship, were in confer
ence all day today. There is no sign of the
government faltering. but It recognizes that
It may be forced to resort to extreme
measures. NJ. BRAND said today that tho
decision Of the pope was entirely unex-
pected.
1.-THE encyclcal is very grave" said NJ
BRAND. while condemning the law Of
1906 It advised recourse to the common
law. Although the refusal to form cul-
tural association was, in my opinion, an
error and to the detriment of the church.
It was the church's legal right so to refuse.
In a spirit OF conciliation. out of respect
to the consciences of the French Catholics,
and in order to do nothing to disturb peace
and tranquility. the government thereupon
prescribed this easy means OF continuing
worship by a simple declaration In accord
ance with the law of 1881. The pope's
brutal order to the clergy to reject this
offer practically incites them to violate the
laws of the country. He no longer acts as
the spiritual head of the church. as the
canonical objections against the law Of
1905 cannot be invoked against that of 1881.
The pope now assumes a political leader
ship, and the vital question is whether the
Catholics Of France will consent to follow
him or not. II they do the government will
act with even greater energy because of
the tolerance It has manifested heretofore.
Every violation Of the law viii be prose-
cuted, and, furthermore, special measures,
legislative and otherwise, may be taken"
Special Measures to BE Used.
The special measures referred to by NJ.
BRAND are those intimated by Premier
Clemenceau in the Chamber of Deputies,
namely, to strip the clergy of their privi-
leges, compel them to perform military
service and as a last resort to treat them
as foreign subjects.
Militant Catholics are rejoicing at the
stern attitude Of the pope. religious
organ says the faithful can now face the
future with serenity "and show the perse-
cutors of the church that the Daughter OF
Eternity disdains the efforts Of wicked men
and. will triumph in the end"
Church OmciaIs Indignant.
ROME, Dec. 9.-In spite OF rumors OF
attempts to bring about a concilation be-
tween France and the vatican, vatican
authorities have denied again and with
emphasis, that any negotiations TO this end
are under way. On the contrary church
officials are very indignant at the attitude
taken by M. BRAND, the French minister
Of public worship. They declare that France
apparently grants facilities for the practice
OF worship, but in reality II Is striving tC
dismember the organization Of the church
by striking at the clergy According to the
latest instructions the clergy will not cedC
except 10 force. It is believed here that
December IL will see the beginning OF in.
creased bittrness In the conflict In France