The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-14

s!Ss5 iFs5;ss y h.:f e !t'.aS3t *h lE-z7s
for our Just indighatio on AS Americans
is4 the French government 8 absolute
disregard for]the property rights Of the
church. She has been despoiled Of the
salaries granted to the ministers of#re-
which the church relinquished under
that express condition. We say it not
in the heat Of passion, not as partizans,
but simply as lovers of Justice.
! 1et.What SHOULD we tMnk&if our own
government had seized on the friars ?
lands in the Philippines without Civ
ing any compensation; or, after having
pledged solemnly a Compensation,
should afterwards refuse to keep its
part Of the contract9. Furthermore,
suppose the American government had
left to the Filipinos merely the use
and ) not the ownership of their
churches and only under conditions laid
down by itself and even that their
very use We're liable to- be revoked at
any time9 ~ :.1.. n +
f. Constitution Ignored. +
In addition, the, provisions of the
new law Claw Of separation) entirely
Ignores the constitution and laws of
the church, situation that has no
parallel in our American, method of
Keeping church and state separate.
Here there is due recognition of the
laws governing every lawful society,
while under the recent French law pro-
visions are made: obligatory for organ
ling Catholic worship without any
proper reference to the duly author
lied officers Of the church-the bishops
and priests. ...A
''"This is the point to which the holy
father has .objected most strenuously,
The provision for associations of wor-
ship associations culturelles) opens the
way for schismatical ORGANIZATIONS
which have, in fact, in few cases
been already attempted. It places the
church at the mercy of the Judgment
OF the council Of state, whose decision
IN these matters is final. Should the
church accept the present law she
has before her the very likely pros
process of law. She has learned by
long, and sad experience to place no
trust IN. the promises of the French
government. She knows the spirit that
animates it.
She remembers that M. Waldeck
Rousseau was ready enough to interpret
literally the law of associations, but
his, successor, M. Combes, showed him.
SELF by no; means willing to follow in
has footsteps The law of separation
Il accepted, will inevitably lead to. the
destruction Of religious liberty, Just
as the law of associations led to the
destruction of religious congregations
- Real Nature Of Separation.
"The real: nature Of the separation
has been well expressed in these words
OF a French priest: - s =
- The ,coneordat might be compared
to conjugal union in which the state
represented the husband and the
church the wife. Today they are sep
afated; but the separation has simply
consisted in the husband banishing The
F ysit from her home, keeping all the
himself the little income which he, Al,
lows hersto gain, and likewise in exer-
clsing a. Jealous watch over all her
words and. actions !I&sh
1t IS not separation alone, there.
fore, that the holy father, is repudi
,ating, but tyranny in the guise Of Sep.
aEatlon. Hence it was imperative upou
hlm to resist. For the last twenty
Years Anymore the policy of the holy
see and the French hierarchy has been
one or patience pat NC and 1conciliation, 1t
was with the deepest<regret and only
after alt his conciliat tory measures >had
failed that the pontiffs at length found
hlmself driven to course of passive
resistance. In choosing this course the
holy father did not ssrun; counter: to
the opinions and wishes Of the French
episcopacy: A canvass: Of the situa
tiGn has shown that the vast majority
OF theg bishops were with him, and ali
without a. single exception, have ac-
cepted; and sobeyed his decisions. Nor
were the, French clergy at all behind
their leaders in manifesting their loyal.
ty: Last summer at the GATHERINGS Of
the clergy in almost every diocese
resolutions were taken to be Forwarded
to the pontiH expressive Of their graft.
tude and loyalty. -: 49, :, ''''
Leaves Verdict, to Public.
"For myself T have too much conf
dence IN the goodness of the French
clergy, in their high-mindedness. Their
zeal, their courage, their readiness to
suHer and to sacrifice themselves to
believe, that they will tamely allow re.
igion to be strangled in France: and
l have too much confidence in The
French nation to believe, now that
they, can see and realize the meaning
Of the measures taken and the animue
OF those behind them, that the natural
feelings Of justice and humanity AND
the. love Of liberty will not arise in
their hearts and lead them to reject
the leaders who, in seeking to DESTROY
religion, are bringing disgrace upon the
name of France. And I have too
much confidence in God and his pro.
fectle NJ ct the ; CHURCH not. to feel en-
faith and religion in France rs
ST. The, review Of the case as I have
given it: is based on the facts andSthe
documents, We need only leave # r.
IAN impartial and liberty-loving 1peo.
Eple to decide which party is responsi
Eble for the present miserable Conflict
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