Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-24
PARIS RULES FRANCE.
o'''ernent BY Archbishop ire'""o ~
Sermon at ST. Paul, Mimi.

| "ui' Alinn., Dec. 2j--f' 'Ho'9ii'p
iic'i'd N his sermon ut the 'atnedrai
mere .ohlSht spoke on the topic ohur'i'
ana ota'e IN France" He stid III part
Inc conflict raging at the present
'l''ie netween the church ana III"
H'''.c III FRANCE aWal:cnS universal ana
| pioioihd interest. For the moment
INC situation is undoubtedly serious
i"f p"th contestants. Yet seen from
| "he'ti IL reveals no colorlnS Oh despair
clthcf Tor France or for the church OF
ri''i''. n bright morning care pre-
ui't VIII, at Il not distant tiihe' Dawn
| over me field of battle and be%ct both
| i'll IN" church and France JOY ana ~X-
! uitail"n that the passage III arms an
Sry as 1t was. has opened IN" way to
clearer understanding oil mutual IN
| tcrcst. To warmer glow of olden iEu-
tual love.
| Separation of the church from In"
state III America means liberty ana
justice. III France ii means ScrVitudc
ana oppression.
1T is Il lamentahlc fact that Their"
is in France a party bent on the de
struction of religion. The war is
made on the Catholic church because
'ii' ~ iidHtt represents i'iit,i'ii'
I'm reality, in intent and in fact, the
war against Christianity under any
form, against religion of any kind,
against the idea ii sets of God reign
ing over man.
This party of infdelS and atheists
is far from being French; but it Is
active ana persistent and II forces IT.
sell with vengeance to the front. II
has Grasrcd the helm of power and ii
steers the ship Of state into the dark
est depths of unbclicf and irr"ligion.
Yesterday it was CombcS. the most
brutal of all; today it is Clemcncctu,
somewhat lnore SuhdJcd in his hatred,
but yet IL leader in the fight.
With such men there rciGns another
idea: tn" omnipotcncc Of the state
"iicS. The state must control all aGon-
cicS of power; ii must brook no rival.
Even the church must be in the hands
Of the government. So va" i with
Louis XIV and With Nappleon: 50 is
il with the republic. The republic is a
name in France: it has been we'll said
Of ii that it sleeps on the bed Of Louis
XIV. France has never understood the
nearing Of Il republic.
The stat" is the great power and al
must think and act as the state wills
This is certainly the spirit of The in
fdciS who now rule the country: and
am not 1T all sure il would not be t.
!n!lc dcGrr" ut least the spirit Of good
:ttholicS who We're they to be tonor-
row in the aSccndcnCy would believe
it their duty 10 make every on" go to
mass. as the present government as
sunlcG it Us their duty to let no one
80 "a mass.
Paris for Il c"EtuWy ana Il half has
ruled France; established q new regime.
mcnarchal ana republican it appears
this evening. the provinces awaken to-
morrow morning monarchiai o. rcpuDli-
can. 1t VIII require long year. TO lie
ccrtrdliZe power in France. to give citi-
IONS consciousness of personal indrp,.n-
d"ncr. to obtain through universal suf-
fir GO Il true expression Of national will.
Tie clergy. who are now III" chief
sufferers. arc much to blame. They. too.
have retained even at the altar and in
til" pulpit the spirit of passive obedience
Inherited from old regimes. Admiral BE
in teaching the c&tcchiSm. administering
the SacramcntS. they have never learned
I'll" virtues of public life; they have new
or qucll"ncd beneath the activities Of the
battlefield. Their example ana their
preaching have left their disciples III the
same rassivity, and these know nothing
of the public defence Of principles: saints
before the altar. they are towards be
fore the clerical urn.
"Thcn, French Catholics have been IN
fortunate in many Of their leaders and
~. =.
have learned any one thing it is this
That France is n republic, that they arc
republicans. Tho inlidcl is tho Socialist
who cries out The republic is in peril
nc republican must cast his vote for q
monarchist. III" masses vote for the in
tidc or the Socialist, IN order t,at the
republic survive. trusting to the rcpub-
lie to do in the long run what is most
Srrviccablc for Franco and even for re-
lilipn itself.
Tho evil goes farther. There is an
infdcI or Il Socialist candidate ami cppos-
cd to hum are republican, moderate, con-
Serva,ivc, who clinGS to u peaceful oven
religious. France. but he is a republican.
Monarchists. generally well known Cath
"ics, put up :: candidate Of thci: own:
the king must not he forgotten: If no
kings live. scores Of them Havc lived anH
fidelity 10 them IS the duty Of rhc hour
What happens" The moderate republican
is d fcatcd: the inGdcl or Socialist is
elected
NO one understands France better
tEan leo NH. He babe all Catholics
seek the welfare Of the country AMI
church within the ranks Of loyal adhrr
cnts t. tho republic. Had Leo been lis
tened t., France in all probability would
have escaped the religious prosecution OF
the present day"