Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-31
FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

is shown oyer the existing trouble between the French government and the Catholic church, the Graphic invited Rt. Rev. Monsl&nof Iucey. who is a Roman pr@late, 10 oiva itc readers q statement of the case. and received the following reply:
 ..Tbe trouble that is now aSltat- ing France is a legacy Ill part ol the olden conflict of church ana state. In very modern times the' lines separating the work o1 churcI and of state are fairly well recoS- nized in the United States, but are only dimly appreciated in the olden countries, where the state has al- most always sought to dominate Tn spiritual. as we'll as political ai- fairs. thus forcing the church to combat for the preservation of her identity. King Edward of England, is head of church and state in England, though content to limit his sovereignty in spiritual mat ters to a nominal control of the Anglican church. Emperor William is head of the Lutheran church ol Germany as well as political rnier of the empire. The czar of Rus sia has similar power. The Catho- lie church has never consented to the principle that a ruler Of na- tion should also be ruler of the church or churches within his do- main. as that would virtually make religion mere department of state as education or agriculture. This Is union of church and state ill it's 1 worst form. Where ninc-tenths of population are members Of one church, union of political and spiritual interests to a limited eX- tent and neither dominating the | others, might be at times beneficial and such unions. when mutually satisfactory, the Roman Catholic that are past and in countries that are old.
 The spirit of the Twentieth cen tury seems to be demanding total separation of church and state. such as exists in the United States. This kind of separation is not obnoxious to the Roman Catholic church; on the contrary, it is most grateful to her taste and judgment If the French government would be willing to establish in France a similar mode of living, the proposal would be accepted by Rome. as the spiritual affairs of the people would then be regarded as something sep arate from their political affairs 1 Each would be independent of the other, as in the case in the United l States. But that is not what the 1 present French government wants. It insists upon controlling the spir- itual affairs of the people as de- partment of state. IE such was the law in the United States and Pres ident Roosevelt, with the aid of Governor Davis, was to appoint all the bishops, superiors and clergy of the different Christian churches tof Arkansas. there would be a pretty strong protest. Pope PiussXs the head of the Roman Catholic ! ghurch is not willing to allow the Catholic church of France to be- come bureau in department Of the civil government And do not believe that the Methodists. Bap- fists or Presbyterians of Arkansas are in favor of the principle.
 Tt is imagined that until re- gently the French government wa paving salaries to the clergy of al, religions and was making allow ances for the maintenance and ro- pairs of churches, all from tho common taxes of the people. This is an esresious mistake. In the hor- rioIe upheaval of France a ,fittle more than 100 years ago, which is known as the French revolution all the property of the Catholic churcb Ill ffance was eQuestrated ehorches, schools. asylums, hos pitals, residences of clergy. etc
 ihree-fourths or more of this prop erty was bought by private pur- chasers. The rest reverted to the government and the Catholic church was left penniless. A nude woman or i'll fame was placed on a pedestal in the most famous church of Paris and the people were called in to adore her as the Goddess of Reason. Every tenth day, instead of every seventh, was made the day of ract