The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-25
Party Bent on Destruction of
Religion Has Caused Pres
ent Crisis in France.
THIS VIEW IS TAKEN
BY ARCHBISHOP IRELAND
Catholic Clergy, Priest Says
Still Somewhat to Blame
for Situation.

ST. PAUL, Dec. 24-Archbishop Ire
land in his sermon at the cathedral
Sunday morning spoke on the topic,
Church and State in France He
said in part:
Let not Americans be misled by words
which have totally different signil-
cance i'm their land from what is allowed
TO them In France. Separation of the
church from the state in America means
liberty and Justice; there 1t neans ser
vitude and oppression.
Speaking on Friday last to the Car
din9ls present In the Vatican. Plus Y.
said Of the French situation: 1--WE arc
ready to submit TO separation from the
state. but II must be fair separation
such as obtains in the United States. In
not subjection." No Catholic In the
United States makes objection TO sepa-
ration. for there separation means exactly
what II purports TO mean.
Why Bishops Refused.
Under advice from the head OF the
the associations offered by the law OF
separation. They acted from principle.
In the interest Of religion they could not
approve such associations; they cannot
by tolerating them appear 10 approve
them. They are not rebels against the
laws of the country, The associations.
as the Minister of Education. NJ. BRAND,
himself has declared. were not statutes
binding upon citizens; they were priv
ileges rendered 20 the church. which was
free to accept or reject. She has reject,
well the consequences that were TO fol-
low; the spirit OF the Government was
not hidden from their eyes: II was an
era OF persecution, but, IL no other es-
cape from persecution was possible than
the acceptance OF the law Of the asso-
Citations. they were ready 10 welcome
persecution.
Ut is a Iamentable fact that there is
in France party bent on the destruction
OF religion. The war is made on the
Catholic church because she In France
and in fact, the war is against Christ
ianity under any form. against religion
OF any kind. against the idea Itself of a
Of Votaire and the encyclopaedists OF
the eighteenth century never died out In
France II had an outburst OF triumph
IN the revolution. when God was declared
non existant, and infamy itself denoted
the goddess or reason, was supplented
TO adoratlon upon the pillars of the cathe-
dral OF Paris. II slumbered awhile un-
regimes; it has reawakened 10 new vigor
in the freedom allowed TO thought and
speech by the present Republic.
Party of Infidels.''
This party OF infidels and atheists is
far from being France, as ] shall later
say; but It is active, persistent. unserup-
70 the front II has grasped the helm
OF power and IL steers the ship OF state
into the darkest depths OF unbelief and
the most brutal OF all today Il is Glenn
enceau. somewhat more subdued in his
hatred, but yet a leader in the fght.
With such men, and with others di-
viding with them particular power, even
less violen, adopts OF irreligon, there
reigns another idea-the omnipotence OF
France, even when her rulers were de-
yout Catholics. The state must control
all agencies OF power, II must brook no
rival. Even the church must be in the
Louis XIV. and with Napoleon; and so
Il is with the Republic. The Republic
is name In France it has been well
said OF it that II sleeps on the bed of
Louis XIV. France has never under
stood the meaning OF n Republic, which
Is respect for private and personal lib-
sible 10 the people. 10 take 70 the state
only what is needed for the public well
fare. The most republican OF republicans,
seated in Parliament. set out at once TO
I'VE are the state" they cry out. as
Louis XIV. once said. "I am the state
all must think and act as the state Wills
and as we win. This is certainly the
spirit Of the inhdels who now rule the
country; and I am not at all sure 1t will
not 10 some degree at least be the spirit
of good Catholics who were they TO be
tomorrow in the ascendancy, should be-
neYe 1T their duty TO make every one
go TO mass. as the present party assumes
it their duty 10 let no one go to- mass.
True France Is Catholic.
know her cities and her villages; I
know her people-her aristocracy her
bourgeoise. and her peasantry-and
know them TO be Catholic How. then,
explain the political situation? There are
several causes to be noted. The masses
are not used 10 political life. For ages
they were governed. they do not com
prehend the art OF governing. Put a
thousands OF officials. from the prefect OF
a department 10 the humblest school
teacher, to the village constable: they