Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-10
FRANCE FACING
RELIGIOUS CRISIS
Intense Excitement over Separation
Of Church and State and Papal
Order Forbldding COM
pIIance with Law
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
PARIS, Dec. 9.-France tonight
seems to face an alarming religious
crisis Last nights reports of the
pope's eleventh hour rejection of the
governments final proffer under
which Catholic worship could be con-
tinued under the common law turns
out to be only too true and the dead
lock now is apparently complete. Ac-
cording 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.
Confirmation Causes Sensation
The official confirmation of this re-
port has created sensation, both in
government and Catholic circles.
Cardinal Lecot, archbishop of Bor-
deaux, Archbishop 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, COM
municating the decision of the holy
see to, continue services in the
churches, but abstain from any dec
laration.' and Cardinal Richards own
Instructions, in view of the, order is
ks,ied -by- the sSyrefeat of -tl1e SeiHe yes4'
Iterday, are not to permit for the pres
ent the employment of ceremonial
draperies at marriages or funerals.
The church wardens, whose legal
Ioxr rfOfa
thanked today from the pulpits of the
various churches. Prayers were Of
| fered for the protection of God during
the coming period of persecution.
Regarded as Summons to Rebellion
The government regards the action
of the pontiff as little less than a
summons Of the French Catholics to
open rebellion, as rendering the situa-
| tion exceedingly grave and possibly
entailing the most deplorable cures
Premier Clemenceau and M, BRAND,
minister Of public worship, were In
conference all day today. There is no
| 1t is recognized that it may be
forced to resort to extreme measures.
Mr.. BRAND said today that the de-
cision of the pope was entirely unex-
pected.
THE encyclical is very grave" said
NJ BRAND said today thta the de-
law of 1905 1t advises recourse to the
common law. Although the refusal to
form cultural associations was, in my
opinion, an error and to the detriment
of the church, 1t was the church's
legal right to refuse. In a spirit of
conciliation, out of respect to the con-
sciences of the French Catholics and
in order to do nothing to disturb peace
and tranquility, the government there
n
continuing worship by a simple declar-
alton in accordance with the law of
1881.
Calls Papal Order Brutal
"The popes 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 leadership and the vital ques-
ton is whether the Catholics of
France will consent to follow him or
not. If they do the government will
act with even greater energy because
of the tolerance Il has manifested here
tofore. Every violation of the law will
be prosecuted and, Furthermore, spe-
cial measures, legislative and other
wise, may be taken"
The special measures referred to by
M. BRAND are those intimated by
Premier Clemenceau in the chamber
of deputies, namely to strip the clergy
of their privileges 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. re-
ligious organ says the faithful can
now face the future with serenity and
''show the prosecutors of the church
that the daughter of eternity disdains
the efforts of wicked men and will
triumph in the end"