Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-17
TO PROTECT RELIGION
Intention of the Government of
France.
SEPARATION LAW DISCUSSED
Churches and Movable Property to Go
to Hands of the People.
THE CONC0RDAT CANCELLED
Cultural Associations Who Will Be in
Control Are Similar to Ameri-
can Congregations.
SEPARATION LAW DISCUSSED
THE C0NC0RDAT CANCELLED
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
While in Paris last September I wrote
two letters about the separation law which
have called out a series of inquiries for fur
Their information. The following is a list Of
the questions, which will answer seratim
l. Is there any intention on the part of
the French government to confiscate objects
of value in the churches, such as pictures,
altar ornaments, reliquaries and other &C
cessories?
2 Who owns, who holds the title to.
the sacred vessels. pictures and such other
portable property as is referred to? Are
they owned by the state or by the bishops
or by the parish?
g. What was the purpose of the state in
ventory of church property?
4. How large a proportion of the churches
or other buildings used for public worship
are owned by the state and how did the
state acquire ownership?
3. In case the property is not owned by
the state. is the title in the bishop or in the
parishioners?
6. How will the proposed cultural asso-
citation under the law obtain the titles to
houses of worship. whether owned by the
state or by the bishopS
Z. How are the bishops and parish priests
to be chosen in the future? Will the state
dictate the appointments?
g Can a cultural association build a
church of it's own, or buy church and
engage its own pastor without the consent
- of the state?
.. Will the government recognize and
transfer property to cultural associations
which are not under the jurisdiction of the
regular bishops and the hierarchy at Rome?
10. VIII the government protect cultural
associations which take possession of val
liable portable property now in the
churches?
These questions were submitted to the
highest authorities on the subject in this
country and the replies are based upon in
formation received from these sources:
No Intention to Confscate
/. There is not the slightest intention on
the part of the government of France to
confiscate any church property. Many of
the works of art in the churches throughout
France already belong to the state and to
the several municipalities in which the
churches are located. and in such cases
ownership will be retained and the pictures
and other objects of art will remain in the
churches. Many objects of art We're pre-
sented to the several churches by persons
still living, who may wish to recall them if
there be a change in conditions. That will
be permitted by the government. All other
works of art and objects of value in the
churches will be handed over TO the cultural
associations when organized. In the mean
time, while minister of the interior Mr..
towns in France that they would be held
responsible for such of property.
1t should be explained that cultural
association" is an organiza ton of the men,
bers of a parish similar to the congrega-
tions of the Protestant churches in the
United States. Webster says the word
cult is "a system of religious belief and
worship and that cultural means per
tanning to the cults or culture" The sep
aration law in France requires that the
members of all churches, Catholic and
Protestant. throughout the republic shall
organize themselves into these cultural as
sociations' and appoint officers and trus-
tees similar to the wardens and vestrymen
of the Episcopal churches and the trustees
of Presbyterian churches in the United
States.
2 Neither bishops nor priests in France
have titles to any of the sacred vessels
pictures, altar ornaments relquaries or
other movable property in the churches ex-
cept in particular cases, where such ar
ticles may be the personal property of the
officiating priests. In many cases the title
to such property is in the "fabrque," or
board of trustees. or vestrymen, and in
many cases, 1t Is in the municipality.
Wherever there is dispute concerning own
ership 1t will be submitted to the civil
courts for decision.
Object of the Inventory.
3 The object of the inventory taken last
winter was to Identify all of the property
real and movable. belonging to or in use by
the churches for several reasons. The law
also required the government to ascertain
and locate all property owned by the re-
Hgtous orders; what portion was used for
worship. educational and charitable pur-
poses; what buildings were used for secu-
lar purposes or were rented; the number of
farms, vineyards, etc. stocks, bonds mort
cages and other Investments: what libra
ries, works of art and other property were
In the possession of the church
The authorities wanted such an inven-
tory to guide them in transferring the
property used for worship to the proposed
cultural associations. so that there could
BE- no misunderstanding. 1t wasa also con-
sidered necessary to hold the priests and
other custodians responsible. and 20 protect
the people OF the parishes. who, morally
speaking. are the owners of il all These
reasons were misunderstood by priests and
people in several parts of the republic. who
fought desperately against what they
feared TO be sacrllege on the part of the
government and the first step in spoliation
T. The fourth inquiry opens up a very
complicated question. Father Savage of
the College of the Holy Cross of the Cath
Ollie University at Washington. who is re-
garded as authority upon such questions
says that, by the law of November "a
1iS9. the nation took possession of all &C.
cesiastical property upon the condition
that IL would provide for the expenses of
the cult and the maintenance of the pas
tors. etc. cart. ID, which maintenance should
not be less than 100 franc per year BY
the concordat with the holy see Qsth OF
terminal, year X, April s, 1S02), all
churches not alienated and necessary to
the cult were given back to the bishops
Cart. KID. The pope withdrew his claim
on properties already alienated Cart KID,
and the government agreed to assume the
proper maintenance of the bishops and pas
tors Cart. XIV"
Statement of French Embassy
At the French embassy I am Informed
that by Article XII of the same concordat
QS02). all cathedrals. metropolitan. pa
rochial and other churches that had not
been decided away by the government and
were required for worship We're again
placed at the disposal of the bishops .
Article y of the law of the 18th of Germ-
nal. year X. provides that the parsonages
and adjoining gardens which had not been
decided away should be restored to the pas-
tors and priests of branch churches In
the absence of such parsonages the munich
pal officials were authorized to furnish
lodgings and garden to the priests.
AS these provisions do not formally de-
termine the question of ownership. several
opinions have been advanced: "a that the
state continued to be the owner of the real
estate used for worship. and merely con-