Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-13
THE FRENCH SITUATION,

on the nth of this month the Jaw
separating church and state IN France
went into effect IN Paris, as a begin
ming ot its enforcement all over the
country. BY that law the state ceases
20 give financial support 10 the clergy
men OF any denomination, and church
property is to be owned and admins
tered by societies under the control Of
the state. instead of by the church.
The Pope refused to accept the new
arrangement, and when his encyclcal
containing this decision first appeared
a storm of protests arose In France,
Even ecclesiastical dIgnitarles eY-
pressed the opinion that a mistake had
been made and the press was full of
gloomy forebodings French Catholics
deeply attached to their faith and
worship sent "suppllcation' 10
their father" and declared that the
encyclical had had painful impression
in the highest Catholic circles II was
predicted by these suppliants that,
Professionalism will occupy our churches
and presbyterles. and Will he enabled
also to claim the souls OF the faithful.
But, Notwithstanding such remon-
strances, the Pope remained firm. lie
takes the view that the law is the re-
suit of a conspiracy OF philosophers
"who have our politicians in leading
strings And he is quoted as having
said; Il am like the father Of fam
ily-I cannot permit outsiders TO enter
my house and regulate the interests OF
my children without consulting me-"
One popularity of the situation is this,
that now the entire church has accept
ed the decree of the Pope, and that the
Catholic press is unanimous In applaud
Ing the stand taken by the church
Even the London Saturday Review con-
slders the papal encyclical tho bravest
thing In truth that has come to France
from the Vatican since the day when
Plus vi. hurled the civil constitution
OF the clergy In the face of the men OF
the first revolution" The same paper
Is quoted as follows: 1T should herald
the dawn OF a new era in the annals OF
French Catholicism. an era in which
the church will abandon the Erastian
superstition that has been her blight
In the past, and set up against the
Jacobin's enthusiasm for the tyrannl-
cal state the Christians zeal for re-
llgion and orderly liberty"
From this distance II may appear
that the church ought to have yielded
Ia the pressure brought to bear upon
II. and this the government seems to
have expected But the principle in
volyed Is this. has the state the moral
right TO deprive any church OF the
natural right OF It's members
TO administer IT, own affairs?
in appearance the strife in
France Is the struggle Of church
against the legal authority Of the
government; in fact it Is a protest
against what the Catholics consider
the cncroachment Of the state upon
the domain of the church From this
point of view the struggle in France
Is as the London Saturday Review
puts IT, a conflict for the cause OF
ChrIstondom."
The government IL as firm az the
church instructions have been Issued
10 the officials to sequester all church
property which Is not claimed under
the law. and to administer It accord
ing to the law governing property
whose owners are absent from France
and to force the doors Of the church
safes II the wardens decline to CUR
render the keys The project Of the
Seine has posted notices throughout
the city informing al families that
after Dec II they must apply TO the
mayors of thor districts for the fun
oral trappings used in the churches.
NJ. BRAND has prohibited the collec-
tion Of fees by cures for marriages
or funerals.
II these provisions are carried out,
IL IS probable that riots and violence
will ensue. 1t Is an unfortunate situa-
ton. II does not pay any country 20
encourage strife among the citizens,
especially on religious lines, The
French radicals will have TO yield 70
the demands FOR notifications In the
law, in the interest Of harmony and
safety For the creation Of internal
strife in a sta,e is a dangerous under
taking