The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-24
CATHOLICS or FRANCE
BLAMED BY ARCHBISHOP

St paul. Mimi. Dec. 2i-,Archbishop
ireland. Ina his sermon AT the cathedral
yesterday morning spoke on the topic.
Church and state IN France" He de-
clarcd that no one understands France
better than did Leo Kill and leo bade all
good Catholics to seek the welfare OF the
church and OF the country IN the ranks
of loyal adherents Of the republic.
I&ld Leo's advice been followed. he said,
the church would. I'm all probability. have
escaped the present persecution. Mo-
narchial ideas and plottings, participated
iu by Catholics, he asserted, have done
dreadful injury 20 the church In France.
The archbishop said that the state is
the great power and all must think and
act as the state Wills
This IS ccrtalny the spirit of the in
fldels who now rule the countsy,' he
continued. land | am not at all sure 1t
would not be to some degree, at least,
the spirit of good Catholics, who. were
they 10 be tomorrow I'm the ascendancy,
would believe II their duty 10 make every
one go 10 mass, as the present govern
ment assumes II as their duty 30 let no
one go TO mass
The archbishop. in beginning his sermon,
Eaid
'''rhc conflict raging al the present time
between the church and state In France
ewakens universal and profound interest.
II could not be otherwise. were II only
for the personalities of the contestants,
on the one side thes Catholic church,
which for ages has swayed the moral
and religious life of the tens of millions
Of mankind. and demands. as I'm Heavens
name, the right to continue it's work
ndown the coming ages; on the other the
'grande nation" which. since the days OF
Clovis and Charlemagne, has revelled i'm
the title of Eldest Daughter of the
Chufch and has held SO long amid people
the most conspicuous place in the van
guard OF religion and of civilization.
Archbishop ireland continued:
For the moment the situation Is un-
aoubtedly serious for both contestants.
Yet seen more anear. Il reveals no color
ing OF despair. either for France or for
the church of France. y bright morning,
I dare predict, WILL at a not distant time,
dawn over the field OF battle and bring,
both in the church and In France joy and
cXultation that the passage at arms, an
CRY sit was. has opened the way TO 4
clearer understanding OF mutual interest
10 "A warmer glow OF olden mutual love
Separation OF the church from the
state i'm America means liberty ard JUS
tice; IN France IL means servitude and op-
preston.
Under advice from the head OF the
church the bishops OF France refused
the associations offered by the law Of
separation. They acted from principle
III llH interest OF ItilEloU lltN tOulu not
approve such associations: they could not
by tolorating them appear to approve
Them
Pope and bishops knew the consequon-
res that were 10 follow. The spirit OF the
government was not hidden from their
eyes: IL was an era OF persecution.
1T Is a lamontable fact that there is I'm
France n party bent on the destruction
Of religion. The war is made on the
Catholic church because she I'm France
represents religion.
"ln reality I'm intent and i'm fact. the
war Is against Christianity under any
form. against religion OF any kind. against
the idea itself OF a God reiguing over
man. The old spirit OF Voltaire and the
Encyclopedias OF the 18th century never
di"d out in France.
This party ~ infdels and atheists Is far
Il, from being France. but H. rs active. per-
ttrtouf urco~''.,ri.-.- ~s' 20 eo~-og ffe.-r
With vengeance to the front II has grasp
ship Of state into the darkest depth OF un-
rCIief and irreligion. Yesterday "a wa,
-'Ombes tho most brutal OF all; today " is
C1cmenCeau somewhat more subdued n
his hatred. but yet a leader I'm the fight
with such men there reigns another
idpa. the omnipotencc OF tho state. THIS
was ever the plague of France. even
when her rulers were devout Catholics
The state must control all agencies OF
power. II must brook no rival Even the