The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-19

ed to him that the great majority of Iaymen. eiergymen and bishops were satisfied with the new law and belisv- ed that 1t could be obeyed without irn- pairing the spiritual influence of the church, wheras. fl the law, was deted and disobeyed 1t would only cost the church hundreds of millions Of francs worth of property. but it will be q
 miracle if Catholicism does not lose the greater number of the faithful"
 The appeal set forth frankly the ale most unanimous belief of the French Catholics that the holy father had been deceived and mislad regarding the sit- uation. 1t reminded him that he had not conferred with the r en n bishops ar any other representative~1of the Catholic church in France, but your holiness has preferred to follow the secret decision composed of Italian, German and Spanish pretates. in which che interests, of the French chdreh and the faithful people of France were rep resented by only ohe powertesS French man.
 No notice whatever was taken of this appeal to the. Vatican. although 1t was sent with the knowledge and approval of Cardinal Richard and prominent bishops of France.
 g % % .r
 Having received no reply to kae pro- test the bishops held q second conven- tion on the 9th of September. rev1lSsd their feri-ser action ana made s9ymal submission to the "encyciieal. grayissi' mo" From that moment they have been in an attitude of opposition to the sroyarnment and have inatructed the clergy and Iayman thrdnghout the country not to form associations eul- tuelle." or to take any other aateps tn nhedIence. 10 the law. The following are the instFdctibns issued by the aTchbi- shop of Paris for the guidance ef the faithful:
 ieais must remain passive, aud may not corporate in any act of sequester- ation. but if the bishop considers that the refusal of the treasureTE to sur pessdar inc keys may cause grave con sannsnees. he can permit them to do so on tbe condition that they do not siSn any document. concerning the spplia- tfon; bishops may authorize Catholse of7ciais to participate in sequesters if fhe refusal would ,endanger positions necessary for the maintenance of the families, but parish priests and other cannot participate In the acts of seouesteretion in any manner unless tha seouestered ecclesiastical prOperts Ia permitted to pay rent tp the p0plic orS unless. the, contract connot be broken without heavy loss. Churches. prssbyteries, Episcopal man sions. serninar!eA and other church buildings which are seized cannot be rented. except in case of absolute mes veEsity and after the administration has signed a declaration not to at- tennpt in any wise Co anraugs the IT, hertv of the lessees. If called to the oelors (conscript into the arnlYl ec- eiesiasticaIs must appeal to the council off state, but. pending the councils de- efsfon, should their failure t0 respond .,, the call subject them to the penalty of desertion, they can report for ser vice. If cultural associations are formed me parish priests must remain in their churches and continue to Say mass an- fil driven out by violence. If a sehis- matic priest appears, the legitimate Driest must leave the church. first "a rning practitioners. He must not par Iicipate in any schismatie service"
 y@ A. S
 In the meantime NJ. Brland, minist sr If public worship, mas sen, q ci4cular .o municipal authorities everywhere a clear explanation of the | meaning aud intent of the law. and 1 .nelosing regulations for It's enforce | nent. He cautions them 10 tsKs no | measure to prevent public worship In | he usual places, and to eonhne them !