Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-14

and bishops were satisfied with the new
law, and believed that 1t could be obeyed
without impairing the spiritual influence
of the church, whereas. If the law was
defied and disobeyed, it would not only
cost the church hundreds of millions OF
francs worth of property, but lit will be
a miracle If Catholicism does not lose the
greater number of the faithful"
The appeal set forth very frankly the al
most unanimous belief of the French Cath
olics that the holy father had been deceived
and misled concerning the situation. 1t re-
minded him that he had not conferred with
the French bishops or any other represen-
tatives of the Catholic Church in France,
but your holiness has preferred to follow
the secret decisions of a commission COM
posed of German, italian and Spanish
prelates, in which the interest of the French
church and the faithful people of France
were represented by only one powerless
Frenchman.'
No notice whatever was taken of this
appeal at the Vatican, although 1t was sent
with the knowledge and approval of Car
dinal Richard and prominent bishops in
France.
Submission to the EncyclicaI.
Having received no reply to this protest
the bishops held a second convocation on
the 9Th of September. revoked this former
action and made formal submission to the
"Encycical Gravissimo." From that mo-
ment they have been in an attitude of OPP
structed the clergy and laymen through
out the country not to form associations
cultuelles'' or to take any other steps in
obedience to the law. The following are
the instructions issued by the archbishop
of Paris for the guidance of the faith
full"
Parish priests. Wears and other cleri-
calls must remain passive, and may not CO.
operate in any act of sequestration, but IL
the bishop considers that the refusal of
the treasurers to SURRENDER the keys may
cause grave consequences. he can permit
them to do so on condition that they do
not sign any document concerning the
spoliation; bishops may authorize Catholic
officials to participate in sequesters If the
refusal would endanger positions necessary
for the maintenance of their families, but
parish priests and other Catholics cannot
participate in acts of sequestration in any
manner unless the seduestered ecclesiastical
property is permitted to pay rent to the
public administrator. or unless the contract
cannot be broken without heavy loss.
Churches, presbyteries. episcopal mansions,
seminaries and other church buildings which
are seized cannot be rented except in case
of absolute necessity and after the admin
istrator has signed declaration not to at
tempt in any wise to abridge the liberty OF
the lessee, (conscripted into the army. II
called to the colors. ecclesiastics must APP
peal to the council of state. but pending
the councils decision. should their failure
to respond to the call subject them to the
penalty Of desertion. they can report for
ed the parish priests must remain In their
churches and continue to say mass until
driven out by violence. If schismatic
priest appears the legitimate priest must
leave the church. first warning his pa
rishioners. He must not participate in any
schismatic service"
Notice to Municipal Authorities.
In the meantime. Mr.. BRAND. minister Of
public worship. has sent a circular to mu-
nicipal authorities everywhere containing a
clear explanation of the meaning and in
tent of the law. and inclosing regulations
for its enforcement. He cautions them to
take no measures to prevent public worship
in the usual places and to confine them
selves to earnest efforts to encourage the
organization of communicates into "asso-
Citations cultuelles' He enioins them not
to adopt harsh measures. to avoid exciting
the passions and prejudfces of the people
and to exercise patience and persuasion.
The crisis comes on Sunday-the first day
of public worship since the law went into
effect.