The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-29
CAN'T NEGOTIATE WITH ROME.
BRAND HINTS AT NEW CHURCH
LAWS IN FRENCH SENATE.
Zig Majority in Test votes Indicates Pas
SAGE Of Public Worship Measure
-Ahurch Leaders DeaOunce Viola
Ilons OF Liberty and 20 wers Of Mayors.

Special Gable Despatch 10 THE sun.
PARIS. Dec. 2s.-Tho Senate took up the
religious bill to-day. From the preliminary
votes il looks as IL the measure will lie
adopted by a ira iority as substantial as
that given TO il in the Chamher Of Deputies.
although the Senate was not disposed TO
hurry il through at a lie session, as did
the ChaUt or.
Minister BRAND and NJ. Lecomte, the
reporter Of the til, were the only speakers
for the Government. Several Senators
spoke in opposition. NJ. BRAND made a
forcfful speech, 81 eaking "a one with alum
dant confidence in his cause and his position.
A strong den and was INN ediately made
that his address he printed and placarded
throughout the country This was opposed
hut it was finally decided by a vote of 1888
70 SO TO have the speech posted throughout
France.
speaking for the Church Count de las
Cases said that il had demanded only a
common right. To this NJ. BRAND replied:
I'VE have offered you a common right inn
proved. We have modified the require
ments OF the law of 1851 in your favor, but
the Church will have none of il, although
many Of the clergy and parishioners are
wiling to act under it,"
EtHdlOl NO III Vic hlOluCT ID
ponent Of the measure, said that the Catho-
los would not accept IL unless il was made
TO conform with the United States laws
in respect to the acceptance of the Bishops
word as to the regularity of priests. He
also objected TO M. Brands circnlar re-
placing a law.
VI. BRAND, replying TO these objections,
said: We have made you a better offer
Vkrp NV Ctrnllar Ma hapn nGarol Won
q new law and you reject it in advance"
NJ. BRAND uttered some vivid and direct
sentences in the course Of his speech, which
was received with applause by the Left and
murmurs from the Right. We are giving
You liberties" he said. Liberty is the
worst enemy the Church can meet. II
public religion ceases in France it will
cease only by order Of the Vatican, and the
country will not deceive itself on that point.
am not entirely satisfied that the Pspacy
Is not as much occupied in protecting itself
from the French clergy as from other
French cit izens."
Count de las Cases opened the debate on
behalf Of the Right. He claimed that the
bill did not give Catholics liberty under their
common right. The proposed law was a
veritable mockery. He did not ask for a
Centime in the budget and did not ask a
single privilege. He only demanded the
liberty of common right. Leave the Church
TO the Church and the State to the State.
To allow Mayors freedom of action meant
dministrativ anarchy.
NJ. Lecomte replied, affirming tina; the
Government would not renounce its preroga-
tive. 1t could not bend before the will OF
the Catholics. Parliament ought to supply
the Government with the arms il demanded.
NJ. de Lamarzelle reproached the Gov
eminent for ignoring the Pope, whom alone,
as regards religion, Catholics recognized.
The Government had expected the Catho-
lies 20 yield rather than be despoiled Of their
property, but it found itself deceived.
Hence arose the impasse where it found
itself to-day.
The speaker especially criticised the
provisions OF the measure under which
projects and mayors are TO give authorize
tions 10 the clergy for conducting services
In churches. 1t was asked how these
authorities could determine il a priest de-
handing the lease Of a church was a suitable
man.
To this it was replied that il there we're
doubt the tribunals could settle the matter.
The opponents of the bill refused to accept
such a decision, except, as they declared,
ION condition hat you law allows the
Catholic hierarchy to be respected as in the
United States, where the tribunals suspend
making a judgment in case OF dispute until
the Bishop has designated the priest who
alone has the qualifications for claiming
the Use of a church.
NJ. BRAND said that the question Of sepa-
ration was no longer under discussion.
That had been voted upon and approved
almost unanimously by the whole coun ry.
The present bill marked no new departure in
the Governments policy, which occupied
the same position as before and had the
co~untry's approval. A complete calm ex-
listed because the Catholics were satisfied
that their religious liberty was guaranteed.
He repeated at length the statement he
has often made that the French hierarchy,
clergy and leading members OF the laity
were ready 10 accept the law OF 1905, adding:
But a brutal order, coming whence you
know, reduced that to n~othingness.' Con-
tinuing, he said:
When l referred the other day In the
Chamber TO a certain subsection, or slavery,
was thinking that II Rome had not certain
means Of intimidation the French clergy
would long ago have accepted the law. l
certainly recognize the disinterestedness
VI It's members, Dut III tuIs LHOy VI DOuhH
10 submit 10 the Pope or become veritable
human rags as usual"
NJ. BRAND declared that he based his
statements on conversations held with
Bishops and cures, and aroused a sensation
by declaring that other laws would follow
II they were needed. He argued that
church property could only be allotted to
associations, which the Church refused to
form. II would be impossible, he said,
to hand the property over to Individual
priests or Bishops. He evoked lively
demonstration from the Left by asking II
Frenchmen could in French law acknowl-
edge the power OF one outside their
boundaries on whom foreign influences
couIl act at times. He declared that any
negotiations with Rome were utterly i'm
possible, because the principles Of the two
parties were SO essentially a~ntagonistio
that no agreement was possible. Should
difficulties arise in regard to the power OF
the mayors, the ordinary tribunals could
AiuI cate "a thew did in the United St9tes.