Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-10
FACING A CRISIS.
Pope Rejects Proposition
Of French Government.
Parish Priests Ordered to Hold
Services Until Driven Out.
Premier and Minister Of Public
Worship Confer Sunday.

1-.riS Dec. 9.-F'rancc tonight seems
f., face an alarming religious Crisis
rast nights reports OF the Pope'S lltn
lorr rejection OF the governments final
n,.offer under which Catholic worship
c,,Id he continued under the common
law turns out to be only too true, and
tire deadlock now is apparently COM
rletc. According to the Popc'S orders
declarations under the law of 1881 are
prohibited, but the parish priests must
rc.nain III their churches until driven
out by violence.
The official confirmation Of this COM
mtnication has created Il sensation,
,,u.h in government and Catholic cir
cl,+ Cardinal Lecot, archbishop of
IfnlCtaUx. Archbishop Geoman and
CthtlS Who already had advised COM
llianco with the Law, have hastily in
ytru,tcd the parish priests of their
G;ccrscS that the former advice is null
anI void, and today in all the churches
! Of Paris bishops and priests after
n.sr. road the letter from Cardinal
nic.;drd. archbishop Of Paris, COM
, uiunicatiug the decision of the Holy
| -. t. 'c"utiru" services il the
;ticl" and Cardinal Richards own in
| .tru: tinas in view of the order issued
! hy the project Of the Seine yesterday
not t. permit for the present the en-
! i'lnymcnt Of c"rc!Mnni;il drlprrics at
marriages or funerals.
The church Wardrns. whose LEGAL OK
ii: .,c" will expire next Tuesday, wcrc
thanked today from the pulpits of tn"
;ous churches. Tine protection of
Gnd was also asked in prayers.
III" government regards the action
Of i" puntiff as little less t,lan a sum
rln"S OF the French Catholics to open
rebellion, as rendering the situation
| t.c"ctiinGly grave. and possibly entail
i'r the most dcplorablc consequences
| l."hmicr Cl"mcnccau and NJ BRAND
miHI.tcr Of public worship, We're i'll
conference all day today There is ne
Si2n of the government faltcring but
ii recognizes that il may be forced t.
resort to extreme measures. NJ. BRAND
said today that the decision of the
Pope was entirely unexpected
"Th" Encyclical is very brave" said
NJ. BRAND. While condemninr tho
law of 1908 it advises recourse to tn.
common law. The Popes brutal orde.
to the clergy practically incitcs them Il
violate the laws of the country. He No
longer acts as the spiritual head of tl,t
| church. as the Canonical objections
against tho law Of 1893 cannot be in.
Voked against that Of 1881 The Pom,
now assumes Il political leadership an.
the vital question is whether the Cath
! "ilCS of France Will consent to follow
him or not. If they do the government
will act with even greater energy he
cause Of the tolerance it has mani
Tested heretofore. Every violation 0
the law will be prosecuted. and further
more special measures, legislative an
otherwise. may be taken"
The special measures referred to h
". BRAND are those intimated by Pre-
nior Clanceau in the Chamber Of Depli
ties. namely: to strip the clergy Of thei
privileges. compel them to perform scr
vice and as Il last resort, to treat Their
Is foreign subjects
Militant Catholics are rejoicing at til
| stern attitude Of the Pope