Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-14
FRENCH CHURCH LAW
Explanation of the Prevailing
Religious Controversy.
ATTITUDE OF THE VATICAN
Disregarded Action Of the Bishops
Convocation.
PURPOSE OF THE GOVERNMENT
Proposed to Have Religious Worship
Continued Throughout the Coun-
try as in the Past.
OF THE GOVERNMENT
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
For thousand years the church of Rome
and the government of France have been
closely allied. During the French revolu-
ton of 1850 there was temporary DISCO
luton of those relations and the govern
ment confiscated all property, real and per-
sonal, which was vested in the religious
establishments. After the restoration Ma
poleon made peace with the Vatican in
order to secure the support of the Catholic
population, and entered into what is known
"concordat,'' term commonly used to
designate treaties with the holy see. Under
this agreement the church property of all
kinds automatically went back into the
possession of the ecclesiastical authorities,
although there is a dispute whether 1t was
legally restored.
The government of France agreed to pay
the salaries of all the parish priests,
bishops, archbishops and French cardinals,
provided it was allowed to nominate the
bishops. From that time until recently,
whenever bishopric in France has become
vacant the government has submitted a
list of candidates from whom the popes
have made their choice, and about eight
million dollars year has been appropri-
ated from the public treasury to pay the
salaries of the clergy in active service. A
few years ago, shortly after the election of
Pope Plus x, the latter refused to appoint
any of the nominees of the French govern
ment to several vacant bishoprics because
of their alleged liberal views, and friendly
relations with the republican party. This
rejection of the government candidates for
the first time in history was attributed to
the prejudices of Merry del Val, the papal
secretary of state, Spanish fanatic who is
opposed to all progress and hates the
United States for the same reason that he
hates France-because they are republics.
IF he cOuld have his would hl1rn all
the school houses and all the libraries,
abolish all modern ideas and return to the
customs and conditions of the fifteenth CEN
fury.
Relations With Leo XIII.
Pope Leo XIII was one Of the abiest
statesmen and diplomatists of his time
Cardinal Rampolla, his secretary Of state,
has the reputation of being the ablest
statesman and dplomatist in the Catholic
Church today. Plus x, the present pope, is
neither a statesman nor a dipiomatist and
has no taste for politics. Realizing his
lack of knowledge and experience, and the
unpopularity of his own democratic ideas,
he has left the foreign relations and politi-
cal affairs of the holy see entirely to his
have entirely reversed the policy Of the
previous pontifcate.
Leo XIII and Cardinal Rampolla cult
waited intimate relations with the French
republic, much to the sorrow of the old
monarchical party in France. They had the
foresight to realize that the republic is per-
manent and that the monarchy can never
be restored. Hence they made friends with
the republican leaders and won them over
to the support of the church, because
France is the most important country in
the world from an ecclesiastical point of
view and has always been the chief source
of the revenue of the holy see But, as
soon as the present secretary of state as
sumed control of affairs in the Vatican the
old policy was reversed and the trouble
commenced, first because the pope, under
the advice of his secretary of state, would
not appoint the candidates for bishops
nominated by the French government, and,
second, over a visit of President Loubet to
the King of Italy.
The Cardinals Angered.
The gulf that separates the Vatican and
the quirinal at Rome is go deep that Presi-
dent Loubet decided not to cross 1t and,
being there at the invitation and as
guest of the king, he did not call upon
the pope. The cardinals We're furious, and
instead of addressing complaint to the
government of France, the cardinal secre-
tary of state sent a remarkable and I'M
precedented formal remonstrance to all
of the other governments of Europe, Pro-
testant and orthodox Greek, as well as
Catholic, as If they had anything to do
with the matter. This was deliberate
dHTOnC TO the president OF france anu
was so accepted. very bitter contro-
versy ensued, which terminated with the
withdrawal of the French ambassador to
the Vatican and the papal ambassador tn
Paris.
In the meantime the relations between
the church and the government in France
became less and less cordial. The cham
Der Of deputies became more and more
Masons, the free thinkers and materialists
obtained control of the government and
the parliament, and began to enact a Sc
ries Of laws that were intended to de-
prive 1t of Its property. The chamber
refused to make an appropriation to con-
tinue the embassy to the holy see. A law
was passed placing the religious orders
tons and taxing all church property that
Is not actually used for worship. In order
to do business, the monks and nuns were
required to take out licenses, submit In
nual returns of their earnings and ex-
penditures, just the same as railroads, In
surance companies and other business cor
porations. All religious schools were
abolished. All educational institutions con-
Quoted by priests, monks or nuns were
closed on the ground that they were
teaching the children Of France unre-
publican doctrines and converting the
coming generation into monarchists. All
monks and nuns, $1,000 in number, were
then expelled from the country and their
property, amounting to hundreds Of mil
lions of dollars. was confiscated. Then
the government undertook to make an
inventory of all church property. This was
done as a precaution for the benefit of
and the protection of the parishes and to-
avoid future complaints and complications
as to the ownership of the pictures. fur
niture, altar ornaments, vestments. relics
and other movable property.
The Separation Law.
Finally in nocoynfor look upba% 4.