Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-14
KEANE DEFENDS
POPE 5 ATTITUDE.
Attitude of Vatican in. French
Crisis One of Principle and
Not Expediency
NOT A POLITICAL PLAYrHlNe
Noted Catholic Prelste Of Iowa Defends
His Church Against the Present
French Laws and Its Attitude in Re-.
fusins to Accept Their Full Require
ments.
Special to Times-Republlcan.

| Special to Times Republican,.
| Dubuque, Dec. 1.-THE present crisis
In France has evoked statement from
/ Archbishop Keane who spent part Of
the summer in France studying the
| conditions and who is familiar with
the situation now that it has reached
the crisis. When seen at the archeo-
plscopal residence on Thursday after
noon the metropolitan said:
1T is impossible for me to give any
authoritative statement in regard to
the ecclesiastical conditions now evist-
ing In France because have no claim
to be acquainted with the inner facts
which have governed the action OF the
pope and French bishops but from ex-
ternal facts 1T is easy to form suf-
ficient judgment.
When the law voted by the French
parliament a few months ago was sub
mitted to the pope many hoped that
he would accept 1t even tho bad bar
gain. Some. even Of the French bis
hops, were inclined to give trial to
the new organization OF the church and
of worship in France required by the
parliament. Some even ventured to
hope that the conditions thence result
ing might be somewhat similar to those
existing in the United States Of which
we Catholics have so little reason to
complain. But the pope judged 9TH
erwise and refused to try the expert
ment. The law would place the church
and the Christian religion on the same
footing as trades unions, literary So
cieties and association Of any and eV-
cry kind In the first place the pope
knew that this was meant by the au-
thors and instigators Of the law to be
a virtual denial Of the divinity of the
Christian religion. To accept 1t would
be virtual endorsement of this denial.
This, the pope could not consent to-
Moreover, the pope knew full we'll
the fickleness and unreliableness of the
elements composing the French parlia-
ment. He knew that If he once con-
scented to have the Christian religion
stand on the same footing as the secu-
lar organizations they would be at the
mercy of the capricious changeable-
ness which has characterized the
French laws concerning the associa-
tons OF every kind. He knows full!
we'll that We're he to declare himself
content with contemptuous liberation
which the law offers at present it
would probably not be long before the
same legislators would withdraw the
half measure Of liberation which the
law now offers. For these reasons the
pope has considered it his duty to
stand on the ground Of principle rath-
err than expediency. He has refused to
make the church of Christ plaything
for French politicians She stands in
her dignity as the Spouse Of Christ
even should she thereby become the
victim Of the cruelist persecution. To
this she has been we'll accustomed in !
all the centuries of her existence. Ter |
tullian said long centuries ago: The
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the |
church. That is exactly what France
needs today. F'renchmen have been so
engrossed with sensuality and money |
making that the senes Of the super
natural has almost died out in the ma
jority of them. The outcome of the
present crisis may reawalxen the DOR
nant spirit of faith. If SO, the churches
persecution will prove an incalcuable
blessing to her children. For this they
most fervently pray"