Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-10
POLICE TO INVADE
CHURCHES IN PARIS
Newspapers Predict a Religious
Warfare. :.
new LAWS ARE NECESSARY
Prosecutions in $4,000 Communes ia
Pronounce the Dissolutions.
EXPELL1NG OF PARISH PRIESTS
Conservatives Advise the Government !,
to Remain True to All Liberal IA
Principles. s.,
new LAWS ARE NECESSARY
EXPELLING OF PARISH PRIESTS

| PARIS. December 10.-The press today
unanimously recognizes the extreme grave
| ity Of the religious Issue precipitated BY
| the pope's intransigeant attitude and many
| papers predict a veritable religious war.
fare. The governments calculations have
clearly been upset, and new legislative au-
thority may be necessary to enable It to
cope with the situation.
! It having been decided th-t after to-
morrow religious services may not be held
| without preliminary declaration under
the law Of 1881, the pope's orders entail the
immediate initiation OF prosecutions in a.
600 communes and logically the invasion OF
churches by the police for the purpose OF
pronouncing their dissolution and expeliing
the parish priests. The militant Catholics
seemingly hail with Joy the prospect Of
violence. which will compel the closing Of
the churches with the attendant excite.
| ment Of religious passions.
Suspect Government Weakness.
NJ. Jaures the socialist leader, processes
to believe that the vatican has deliberately
determined to test the strength of the party
OF reaction in an effort to overthrow the re-
public. The socialist organs generally, how.
ever, regard the pope's instructions as being
the result of the governments weakness in
Offering any concession beyond the forIna-
ton of the cultural associations contem-
plated under the law of 1906 and declare
that the government now has no alternative
except to insist on declarations being made
or show the ecciasiastics the door. The
conservative papers advise the government
to remain true to its liberal principles CON-
tending that the more the. church is intoi.
Grant and, panic-stricken the more author
ity 1t will need, provided the government
does not lose its mead. The government
has made preparations to cope with the
situation, but is keeping them secret, evil
IDENTIFY waiting to see whether any consid-
cradle proportion of the clergy will revolt.
The cabinet, however, maintains resoluto
front. Instructions to the public prose-
cutors were telegraphed broadcast today.
Minister Brands View.
M BRAND, minister of public worship,
said yesterday: .
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 so to refuse. In .
spirit of Cancellation, out of respect to tho
consciences of the French Catholics, and
in order to do nothing to disturb peace and
tranquility, the government thereupon pre-
scrbed this easy means Of continuing wor-
ship by simple declaration in accordance
with the law of 1881. The popes brutal
order to the clergy to reject this offer prac-
ticaliy incites them to violate the laws OF
the country. He no longer acts as the
spiritual head of the church, as the canoni-
cal objections against the law of 1905 can
not be invoked against that or 1881. The
pope now assumes a political leadership.
and the vital question Is whether the
Catholics of France will consent to fonow
him or not. If they do the government Will
act with even greater energy because OF the
tolerance it has manifested heretofore. Ev-
cry violation of the law will be prosecuted
and furthermore. special measures legis-
lative and otherwise. may DO taken.
The special measures referred to by M
BRAND are those intimated by Premier
namely, to strip the clergy or their priv
leges, compel them to perform military
service, and, as last resort, to treat them
as foreign subjects.
Militant Catholics are rejoicing at tho
stern attitude of the pope. religious
organ says the faithful can now face the
secutors of the church that the Daughters
of Eternity disdains the efforts of wicked
men and will triumph In the end"
vatican's Instructions.
The decision Of the Vatican. which is In
the form of answers to specific questions
may be summarized as follows:
Parish priests, Wears, ETC., must remain
passive and may not cooperate in any
act OF sequestration; but II the bishop con-
siders that the refusal Of the treasurers
to surrender the keys may cause grave
consequences, he can permit them to do %
on condition that they do not sign any
document consecrating the spoliation.
Bishops may authorize Catholic officials
to participate in sequestering IL refusal
would endanger positions necessary for the
maintenance Of their families; but parish
priests and other Catholics cannot particle
pate In acts OF sequestration in any man
property is permitted to pay rent to the
public administrator, or unless the contract
cannot be broken without heavy loss.
Churches, presbyteries, episcopal man
sions, semnaries, ETC., which are seized
cannot be rented except in case Of abso-
lutte necessity, and after the administrator
has signed declaration not to attempt to
lessee.
II called to the colors ecclesiastics must
appeal to the council Of state, but pend
ing the councils decision. should their fall
ure to respond to the call subject them to
the penalty OF desertion, they can report
for service, and, IL cultural associations are
formed, the parish priest must remain in
his church and continue to say mass until
driven out by violence.
II schsmatic priest appears the legiti-
mate priest must leave the church, first
warning his parshioners. He must not
participate in any schismatic service.
ROME, December 10.-Admiral MirabeAo,
the minister of marine has decided TO an.