The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-15
VATICAN DEFINES POSITION;
DENIES THAT FRANCE HAS DE-
NoUNCED rRE CONCORDAr.t
Cssvernmeut Accused Of Hsstnity % the
Holy see-No Existing Law Secures
Religious IIberty-ResI Peril Lies
In Arbitrary Ministerial Circulars.
Special Cable Dispatches To TIVE SUE.

rel gtous ~4berty-Hen Peru LES
In Arbitrary Ministerial CIRCULARS.
Special Cable Dispatches 10 THn SUE.
Roag, Dec. 1.-THE Vatican authorizes
the following summary Of its view Of the
situation:
The Coucordat has not yet been de-
nounced by the French Government, which
is seeking to establish a new legal position
for the Church in France. France has not
oniy not come to an agreement with the
Boly See, but has repeatedly and openly
shown hostility to the head Of the Church.
The Joy Of the Masonic and demagogic
associations shows that war is being waged
against the Church and religion as such.
Notwithstanding the bills and regula-
ions which AVE been passed France now
possesses no law granting liberty to a re-
Igion which does not accept the law Of
separation. One good thing u NJ. Brands
circular is the admission oe the impossi-
biIty OF applying the law Of 1881 to asso-
Citations for public worship. Tie law 81
1901 suficed for other kinds Of associations
and meetings. Therefore what is wanted
is a real law Of honest liberty instead Of
arbitrary ministerial circulars,
The object of the search of Mgr. Mon
~tagnini's residence and his expulsion from
| France was to make the world Relieve that
| the various false statements put in circu-
lation we're confirmed in the documents
confscated. The clergy arc ready to mike
declaration that this is false.
The opposition is not against the dec
| laration required for relig ious meetings,
but against the whole spirit Of Minister
Brands circular"
The dealings Of the Holy See with Brazil
when the Concordat was suppressed are
quoted as an example of her loyalty and
good will under similar circumstances.
The general impression in Vatican circles
is that the French Government is losing
ground and gradually realizing the inn
possibility OF carrying out the measures
threatened against the clergy. In the oourss
OF a conversation to-day a Cardinal said
that the French Government was attempting
to make the saying Of mass a crime and to
punish the priests so offending. Such at
tempts were unrealizable and would only
serve to cover it with ridicule and make it
the lsughingstock Of the world.
Its hands were now tied, he said. II had
been forced to declare a truce and to for
sake the system of reprisals it had initiated.
The outlook appeared hopeful, not because
Cancellation was expected soon but owing
to the fact that the Vatican's firm but
passive stand rendered the Government
powerless and would eventually force IL
to drop the persecution OF the clergy.
In the meanwhile the Vatican, upper
turbed, attends to the compilation of a
note of protest against the violation OF
the nuncia lures archives, which will he
delivered TO the Ambassadors here and
sent to the Apostolic Delegates abroad.
The Vatican intends to extend every
help to the French clergy and to students
expelled from seminaries. They will con-
inue their studies in the colleges here al
the Pope's expense, and financial help
will be extended TO needy parish priests
in France.
The attitude of American Catholics. 40
expressed in the messages of sympathy
received from the Episcopate. is highly
appreciated by the Pope, who remarked
that the voice of the most distant Catholics
reached me first"
Volumes of kilograms Of sympathy are
arriving at the Vatican from all over the
world. The Osserpdtore Romano, the organ
of the Vatican, publishes some that have
arrived from America.
LONDON, Dec. IA despatch 70 the FIX
change Telegraph Company from Rome
says that the papal representatives abroad
have been instructed TO ascertain the at
titude of the Powers in regard to receiving
a protest by the Pope against the search
of the archives Of the Paris nunciatnrc.