Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-12-10
TIE POPE DEFIEs FRANCE.

France seems 10 lace sn Alarming ie
ligious crisis. Saturday rights reports G,
the POpe's eleventh-hour rejection OF the
governments final proGer, under which
Catholic worship could be continued un-
der the common law, turn out to be only
too true. and the deadlock is now ap-
parentIy complete. According 10 the
pontfi's orders, declarations under the
law of 1881 are prohibited, but the par
ish priests must remain in their churches
until driven out by violence.
The official confirmation Of this com
ounicalion has created a sensation, both
in government and Catholic circles. Car
dinial Lecot, archbishop of Bordeaux;
Archbishop GERMAN and others who al
ready bad advised compliance with the
I law have hastily instructed the parish
priests of their dioceses that their form
: er advice is null and void, and yesterday
iu all the churches Of Paris bishops and
priests, after mass, resd the letter from
Cardinal Richard, archbishop OF Paris,
concentrating he decision Of the Holy
See to "continue services 10 the churches,
but abstain fr,m any declaration" and
Cardinal Richa DIS own instructions, in
view Of the order issued by the Perfect Of
the Seine Saturday, not to psemit for The
present the employment Of ceremonial
drsperies at marriages aud funerals.
The church wardens, whose legal ex-
istence expires next Tuesday, were thank
ed yesterday from the pulpits OF The
various churches. Prayers we're offered
tor divine protection during tho coming
period of persecution.
The government regards The action Of
the Poniil as little less than a summons
of the French Catholics TO open rebellion,
as rendering the situation exceedingly
grave and possibly entaiIing deplora5le
consequences.
Premier ClemenceAu ard NJ, BRAND,
minister OF public worship, we're in cor
ference ali day Yesterday There is no
ign of The government falteriOg, but il
recognizes that it may be forced to resort
to extreme measures. NJ. BRAND said
Yesterday that the decision Of the Pope
was entirely unexpected.
"The encyclicsl is very grave" said
N. Bland. "While condemning the
law of 1905, il advised recourse to the
ommOn law Although the refusal to
nrm cnl ural associations was, in my
opini :, an error, and toIthe detTiment OF
he church, ii was the church's legal
,ght 50 10 refuse. In spirit ofconcilia-
ion, ou; of respect to the consciences of
The French Catholics and in order to do
nothing 20 disturb peace and tranquility,
he government thereupoo prescribed this
easy means Of continuing worship by a
simple declaration 10 accordance with the
| law of 1881
"Ibe P pes brutal order TO the clergy
to reject this offer practically incites
them to violate the laws Of the country.
He no longer acts as the spiritual head
OF the church, as the canOnical objections
against the law of 1905 cannot be n
voked agsinst that OF 1881. The Pope
row assumes poEtlcai leadership, anu
tho vital question is whether lhe Catho-
hes of France will consent to follow him
or not. II they do, the government will
act with even greater energy because of
the tolerance it hiss manifested hereto
fore. Every violation of the law will be
prosecuted, and, furthermore, special
measures, legislative and otherwise, may
be taken"
The special measures referred to BY N
BRAND are tho,e intimated by Premier
Clemenceau 10 the Chamber Of Depnties,
namely, to strip the clergy of their priVi'
lsges, compel them to perform military
service, aud, vs. last resort, to treat
them as foreign subjects.