New-York tribune., 1906-12-14
PRIESTS DEFY THE LAW
SAY MASSES IN FRANCE.
Nam Parishioners Break 47cay and
File Implications.

.s Dec. I3-The development IN regard TO
.nsorce,7ent of the Church Separation law
- have been largely legal and there was
- s,sorser The parish priests everywhere cell
..7 mass I'm the presence Of unusually large
..s-io0s. hut the authorities merely noted
s-.,ic1s of the law and cited the priests and
- 70 sppear before justices Of the peace.
-,,,-v, here legal notices have been served
evacuation Of the ecclesiastical resi-
- the serninaries. etc. Several OF these
a1,s,-es were abandoned without further ado.
o. majority Of the prelates. while fully pre-
90 20 g. announced that they would not de-
p ovrert under duress.
Hostile demonstrations against government Of
.-isls occurred AZ Nantes. Arras and Anglers.
=. ,on1ils-e OF the last named city attacked
=. ,olioe and a number of persons on either
= rrs-e hurt. The Bishop at Anglers, from a
-s-s,7- NJ his residence. exhorted the people TO
,.,,slr,. and when his words had had the desired
-.sr- he invited the crowd OF five thousand 10
..,or-ranv him 10 the Cathedral. where he pro-
,,,,,oed the benediction.
u many marshes both in Paris and else
have Catholic lavmen came forward to-day
- 4le5 declarations for the holding Of ser
,lces during the coming year. If this practice
. generally followed il viii be distinct victory
,,r the government. relieving IL Of the possible
-scessirv Of closing the churches and throwing
:, he clergy the responsibility for the discon-
,i,usnce of public worship. In the mean time
.,s Cabinet is preparing measures 10 be intro
suoe5 before Parliament tomorrow.
According n We'll informed persons the gov
s-nr,err intends 10 submit 10 Parliament
rroposftion TO settle definitely the situation Of
tho Church in France. Under this proposal the
church win forfeit all benefits under the law
of 1qa5 bur IT is 10 have opportunity 10 carry
m worship under the common Law. Church
r-,ps--v Is 10 be handed over to the civil au-
fborities on condition that ii be reserved for
purposes ~ worship The positions OF cardinals
and bishops. Al foreign officials. viii be taken
up later II the government finds It necessary
70 a. So
TIE net result Of the unCompr0mising attitude
assumed hy The Vatican in this conflict with the
French goverurlent seems to be that the clergy
will lose lis pensions. s. 800 Of which have
beer granted and Eazetted since the beginning
of this year that all aspirants To the priesthood
VII be- compelled To perform military service
and that The taking over OF the episcopal man
sions. recrories. seuinaries etc, by the State
Department and the comnunes viii begin i'm
mediately instead Of ir December. 1907.
Proceedings have been begun in behalf Of the
government gainsr the Sisters Of the Assump-
non Order 0u the charge Of conducting con-
vent and school for the aTistocracy in violation
Of the Law against education by religious orders.
The abbzs Of the churches OF st Pierre du
eros Gallon. ST. AuEustin and ST. Roch, who are
being prosecuted under the law making il an Of
fence 70 utter IN places OF public worship words
calculated To provoke resistance 10 the lawful
authorities. appeared for preliminary examina-
t0n to-day. They denied having violated the
law, and their cases We're postponed. It was in
he churches Of the three abbes mentioned that
ne greatest resistance 10 the taking of inven-
tories occurred.
Many suits have been begun in connection
with eH6oVments for masses 10 be celebrated
for The r=pose = the souls Of the dead.
II is officially stated that the letters of Non
sgnor Nor-aguiui, the expelled secretary of the
Fapsl NGuclat tuTe here. show that the majority
o. the French bishops favored observance Of the
law of 1851. and bowed with reluctance 10 the
Fapal decree The official statement adds that
lie icvir. Liability Of the diplomatic correspond
ence ot tho nunciature was scrupulOUsly re-
spec-ed before the rupture between the Vatican
and France