The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-17
WHAT SEPARATION MEANS.

Gable dispatches from France pub
a. organized resistance % the enforce.
ment OF the separation decree IL, some
of the parishes. and the usc OF force by
tho government In CARRYING out its
P:ovisos. The same -nonstration.s
were encountered abou; a. year ago
when the authorities made inventories
of church property preliminary to the
completion Of the act. Happily there
has been no show of arms and 10 less
or life SO far. the evident intention OF
the demonstrations being merely 70
show the strength Of she sentiment
against separation
Generally speaking. the lack of vio-
lence among the resistance is remark
able when one considers the centuries
during which the Catholic church has
been supreme as a state religion, anG
tie further fact that France is over
Vhelmingiy Catholic. and i'll the opinion
of the best-informed. can never be any
otherwise. The attitude OF the pope IS
so uncompromisingly hostile. and has
been so completely followed cut in
spirit by the French church authorities.
that armed revolt would not nave been
surprising.
Just how the pope regards the new
law and the government which formu-
lated it may hest be appreciated by
reading the text of his encyciical of
Feb. 6. 1906, entitled Vehementer Nos,
in which he says:
Therefore, being micdful of our
apostolic offics, by which VIC are con.
strained TO defend the sacred rights of
the church against any assault what
ever. and to preserve them in their in
tegrity, we. by the supreme authority
committed to us by God. reprohate the
law now enacted which separates the
French republic from the churcn. ana
this we do for the reasons which we
have set forth: because It irflicts a very
great injury on Cod, wnon it solennIy
abjures by declaring that the republic
has in principle no part in any religious
worship whatsoever; because ii vio- |
laies natural and human rights and the |
good faith of public treaties; because !
it is opposed to the divine institutions, !
The essential principles and the liberty
Of the church.; because tt IS . subvef- |
sion of justice in that it suppresses q
right OF dominion legitinately acquired |
by manifold titles and even by = con-
vention; because it is grave offense |
against the dignity of the apostolic !
SIC and our own person. and against
the episcopal and clerical orders and
the Catholics of France.
Wherefore we protest with our ut
most strength against the Introduction, |
the voting ami the PRONUNCIATION OF the
said law; and at the same time we de-
clare that no change whatever can
avail to weaken the rights of the church
which no human force or daring can
alter"
II spite of the vehemence of this pro-
test and its explicit refusal TO consider
any compromise, the French govern
ment apparently anticipated some con-
osssion from the vatican IN 20 tie eve
of the enforcement Of the Law. II was
disappointed, for the final answer OF
the pope was, if anything, more firm
in the maintenance of his original att
tude than before. Except in few in
stances where iaymen formed asso-
cations for worship 10 take over the
church property under government SUI
pervision. the clergy have passively re-
sisted the law, conducted services In
defiance Of its terms and laid them
selves liable IL prosecution.
Throughout the agitation which has
followed, the government has been
careful to avoid as far rs possible ex-
IRENE provocation which might seem TO
Justify violent resistance, bst it has
nroceeded nevertheless to carry out the
provisions of the law. Further meas
ures are 30 be introduced which may
abolish the pensions provided in the
present law for the clergy; and it isl
said the new law viii contain pro-
vision for compulsory military service
bv student priests. who have hitherto
Leen exempt from conscription.
The new. law begins with a declara-
tory preamble that all religious worship
shall be free; that the state recognizes