The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-10
FRANCE FACES CHURCH CRISIS The Government is Still
 Firm. ADHERE TO SEPARATION Pope is Charged With Stirring Up
 Rebellion. At Services Sunday Prayers Were Of fered in Catholic Churches for "ProtectiOn of God During
 Persecution Period" 
ADHERE TO SEPARATION

Paris, Dec. 9.--France tonight seems to face an alarming religious crisis.
 Last nights reports of the Pope's eleventh hour rejection of the Govern ment's final proffer under which Cath ollie worship could be continued under the common law turns out to be only too true and the deadlock now Is ap- parent1y complete.
 According to the holy fathers order, declarations under, the law of 1881 are prohibited but the parish priests must remain in their churches until driven out by violence.
 The Confirmation of this communica- tion has created a sensation both in Government and Catholic circles. Car dinal Lecot. Archbishop of Bordeaux, Archbishop Germain and others who al- ready had advised compliance, with the law, have hastily instructed the Iarish priests of their diocese that their for mer advice is null and vJId. and today in all the churches of Paris bishops and priests, after mass, read the letter from Cardinal Richard, Archbishop of Paris, communicating the decision Of the holy see 10 continue service in the churches. but abstain from any declaration" and Cardinal Richards own instructions. in view of the order is terday not to permit for the present the employment of ceremonial draperies at marriages or funerals.
 The church wardens, whose legal ex- istence expires next Tuesday, were thanked today in the pulpits of the various churches. Prayers were offer ed for the protection of God during the coming period of persecution.
 SumOns to Rebellion.
 The Government regards the action of the pontiff as little less than a sum- mons to rebellion,l as rendering the situation exceedingly grave and possl- bly entailing the most deplorable con- sequences
 Premier clemencaan and M Briand. Minister of Public Worship were in conference all day today. There s no sign of the Government fdlteriug. but &t fecogaizSs stslat it may be forsed to resort to extreme measures. M. Briand said today that the decision of the Pope was entirely unexpected.
 "The encyclocial is very grave" said M Briand. While condemning the law of 1905, 1t advised recourse to the common law. Although the refusal to form cultural association, was, in my opinion, an error. and to the detrtment of the church, 1t was the church's le- gal right so to refuse.
 Tn a spirit of conciliation, out of respect to the consciences of the French Catholics, and in order to do nothing 10 QiSIurD Cne pGdGC anu the government thereuponl prescribed this easy means of continuing worship by simple declaration in accordance with the law of 1881.
 '"The Popes brutal order to the cler- BY to reject this offer practically in cites them to violate the laws of the country. He no longer acts as the spiritual head of the church. as the canonical obections against the law of 1905 cannot be invoked against that of 1881. The Pope now assumes poll ical leadership, and the vital question Is whether the Catholics of France will consent to follow him or not.
 Government To Act.
 If they do, the government will act with even greater energy because of the tolerence it has manifested heheto- fore. Every violation of the law will be prosecuted and furthermore, spec ial measures, legislative and otherwise. may be taken"
 Tke special measures referred to by M. Briand are those intimated by Pre- mier Clemenceau in the Chamber of Deputies, namely, a strip the clergy of their privileges, compel them to perform military service, and. as last resort, to treat them as foreign sub- jects.
 Militant Catholics are rejoicing at the stern attempt of the Pope. A religious organ says the faithful can now face the future with serenity, and show the prosecutors of the church that the Daughter of Eternity disdains the efforts of wicked men qua will triumph in the end.