New-York tribune., 1906-12-09
A BAR TO SEPARATION
REPORTED PAP4L ACTION.
Catholics Forbidden to Apply for
Right to Hold SerUiceS.

Paris. Dec s--On December II the Separation
law will go into effect in Paris. and on Decer-
Der IL 6nd Is 1t will be enforced in the various
departments according 10 the time when copies
Of the Official Journal" containing the notice Of
the PRONUNCIATION Of the law OF 1905, reached
them The government is facing the situation
with frrnness and calmness but the prospect OF
an acute religious crisis has suddenly been in
creased by what appears 10 be an authoritative
announcement made by the "Croix." the Clerical
organ. that word has just arrived from Rome
that the Pope absolutely forbids Catholics. hish
ops. cures parishioners. 10 make applications
TO hold religious services under the Public Meet
ings law Of 1881 as proposed by the government
The "Croix" said that this interdicted the single
annual application which the Minister of Public
Worship, NJ. BRAND. had announced sufficient.
The Journal des Debats" says that the Pope
used the words:
am like the father Of a farniIv-I cannot per-
nit outsiders 10 enter my house and regulate the
interests of my children without consulting me-
If such Is the final decision of the Vatican the
situation Will be greatly complicated, it is
likely TO be interpreted by the clericals as final
summons not to yield inch and may arouse
violence the part Of the unruly classes. who
already are placarding the walls Of Paris with
appeals to the Catholics to resist TO the bitter
might justify the government in using extreme
measures. although It plainly is the desire OF
Premier Clemenceau and NJ. BRAND 20 avoid the
appearance of persecution 1t might also cause
the French bishops who in despair OF receiving
final instructions from Rome had begun to issue
pastoral letters Of advice TO their priests and
churchwardens. hastily to revise those docu-
ments. which are of the most contradictory ma
ture. being according TO the individual views
and desires of the writer's. Cardinal Lecot and
Archbishop Germain, who consistently favored
submission 10 the law and had already advised
compliance with II, pointed out that it's applca-
ton was simply a forn1alty, a single applica-
ton annually suffcing while uItramontanes like
the Bishop Of ChaIons had instructed their
cures to continue TO celebrate mass without
making an application until elected from their
churches, TO make duplicate copies Of the deeds
and not 10 surrender except TO force. Others.
like Monsignor Gouie, Archbishop OF Lyons.
fearing there might be a change Of views at
Rome took the precaution OF directing their
cures not TO comply with the law until fur
ther orders" Others evaded the point altogether
and simply Instructed their cures 10 continue
their services before. The Bishop or Nice
advised refusal to comply with the law on the
ground that the people OF the Maritime Alps.
having voluntarily accepted French rule in 1860,
vera still bound by the treaty previously made
with the Vatican
In the mean time the government has COM
pIeted preparations TO enforce the law NJ Call
,s-5 ETta--ts- ~ Efnsnra has sent a circular 70
the Treasury officials insJructing them to Sc
quester all Church property which is not claimed
under the law and to administer It according 10
the law governing property whose owners are
absent from France, and TO force the doors OK
the church safes if the wardens decline 70 sur
render the keys. NJ. GuyOt- Dessaigne. Minister
OF Justice has instructed the Public Prosecutors
70 be prepared 10 prosecute those who hold SER
vices without making the application necessary
under the law Of 1881
The Prefect Of the Seine has posted notices
throughout the city informing all families that
after December II they must apply TO the mayo
of their districts for the funeral traDpngs used IN
the churches NJ BRAND has prohibited the COL
lection of fees by cures for marriages or funeral
services.