The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-11

H NE
ments the clergy will boycott h corpse
and refuse 10 assist in any ceremony within
a church.
The Bishop Of Agen has told his clergy
to warn Church employees that their wages
will no longer be guaranteed. He added
that the clergy must cease to hire any
employee who accepts an appointment
under a sequestrator. This position OF
resistance to the law u end. II, as Is
likely, the Government does not yield,
the Church must resort to private religion.
The Paris clergy who have been counsel
ling this to Cardinal Richard have been pre-
mature because Rome has ordered resist
ance first, but once this resistance is out
lined as a matter Of principle or IL is con-
quered the Church will be forced to hold
private ceremonies, only open 10 holders
Of invitations or adherents.
THE Government has already notified
the Bishops Of Mines and Nancy TO leave
their episcopal seats Thursday morning.
The Mdtin significantly says the Govern
ment will not limit its action to individual
offenders. 1t intends to establish judi
cially the rebellion OF the Church. The only
Of so doing is to bring the matter
before the tribunals.
Two members Oh inc OndInDtT Oh DcpuJ1Co
have made the requisite declarations TO
the Mayors Of their constituencies, notify
ing them that public religious meetings
will be held in the churches at the usual
times for a year.
The Deputies think that such a cellar
ton will sufficiently replace one by the
clergy, but it has not been de cided whether
the Clergymen or the men making the dec
larations will be held responsible for
happens during the ser vices. The Pope
only forbade the clergy from making dec
larations. He did not refer to any other
persons making them.
ROME, Dec. IO.-The Osserrdtore Romano
prints an official statement explaining
the sudden reversal Of the Holy Sees atti-
tude toward the Separation law in France
as expressed in the Pope's encyclical urging
observance of the law. 1t accuses NJ.
BRAND, French Minister Of Education,
of making in his circular to the projects
the position of the parish priests impossible.
1t says the Minister clearly wished to
exact from the clergy the declaration pre-
scribed by the law OF 1881 so as TO tie able
TO say that the Vatican had indirectly ao-
cepted the separation law. IL complains
also hat church buildings, instead of re-
naming the Church's property for a year,
according to the separation law, will now
have to be rented by the Bishops from the
Mayors.
To-day Cardinal Richard, Archbishop OF
Paris. will receive from the Pope a letter
forbidding the clergy to make declarations
a. prescribed by the law of 1881 and
giving reasons, which are chiefly to be
found in Minister Brands circular, which.
according 70 the Vatican, makes the situa-
ton Of the Bishops and the parish priests
unbearable. especially On the question OF
the seminaries.
The situation is considered most grave,
as the French clergy have informed the
Vatican that they will submit to all penal
ties, including imprisonment. rather than
yield, while the Vatican openly stat IS that
IL is ready to face abandonment Of public
worship and the establishment Of private
religious services If the clergy shall he
obliged to abandon the churches.
The Vatican's action has caused some
thing OF a sensation. 1t is interpreted
as instructing the clergy 70 adopt openly
a rebellious attitude at whatever cost,
Some say that the Papacy hopes by this TO
brighten the French Government and nduce
IL to adopt milder tactics. II it enforces
the law, giving the appearance of persecu-
ton, the Vatican hopes that a pro- Catholic
reaction will result.