Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-22
Action Called Outrage of the Right, Of
Religion
UNJUST HOSTILITY TO FRANCE DENIED
Law is Condemned Because it Takes
Authority from Iriests.
NEW MEASURE is PASSED BY DEPUTIES
Bill Proposed by Cabinet L.
Adopted by Overwhelming Ma
tority Amid Great
Enthusiasm.

ROME, Dec. 2.-A note signed by the
papal secretary Of state Cardinal Merry
del Val, protesting against the search OF
the papal nunciature a. Paris, the expul-
sion Of Mgr. Montagmui and the seizure
of the secret cipher, enabling the French
government to take cognizance of the
papal correspondence and the alleged vio-
lation Of the right of the pope to corre-
spond with Catholics all over the world,
was presented to the diplomatic representa-
uves accredited to the Vatican today to
gether with circular setting forth the
motives Of the Holy See in the action It
has taken regarding the application Of the
law OF 1906 providing for the separation
OF church and state.
The note sent by the Vatican
to all the papal representatives
abroad protesting against the course of
the French government, after asserting
that the rights of religion have been out
ragged by the French governments action
In preventing the head Of the church from
communicating with the French hierarchy
and by the expulsion of Monsignor Mon
tagnini, secretary of the papal munciature
at Paris. says
The representatives of the Holy See
abroad have also received a circular in
which are set forth the motives for the
action Of the Vatican regarding the appli-
Satlon OF the church and state separation
law or 1905, These motives are so grave
Ihat II Is evidently impossible to accuse the
Holy See Of intransiegenCe or of unjust
hosulity to the French government in con-
demning the cultural associations which
disregarded the essential rights which the
church derived from its constitution, such
as maintaining an ecciesiasticai hierarchy,
established by its divine founder as the
pasis or the organization of the church;
In fact, the law conferred on the cultural
associations rights which not only belong
exclusively to the ecclesiastical authorities
and administering ecclesiastical property,
but the same associations were rendered
independent of the ecclesiastical hierarchy,
, 9nd Instead We're placed under the Jurisdic-
" tqOn of the lay authorities, The pontiff
could not approve of such associations
without being lax In his duty as head or
the church and without trampelng upon the
Fundamental domestic principles of the
The same can be said OF M. Brands
circular. The Holy See could not admit
the unjust and intolerable conditions which
the exercise of their duties.
All this evidently shows that the Holy
See merely did Its duty strictly in giving
Instructors on the subject to the French
clergy. II the French government was
eTaR f6r Py tSe SSnPe6 h Prance
which at least would not injure the essen
tial rights of the Holy See. which, might
separation of church and state, tolerate
such a situation N order to avoid worse
evils, as II did in the case OF other coun-
Secretary Sees Diplomats
The papaI secretary of state, Cardinal
Merry del Val, received during the day the
members OF the diplomatic corps accredited
to the Vatican and communicated to then
the text of the Vatican note.
The cardinal particularly requested the
Prlssian, Russian and Monacoan ministers
20 communicate the contents of the note
TO various governments not having repre-
~ Va
was the only country besides Italy t
which no communication was made no
having a representative at the Vatican o.
a Vatican agent In London.
Monsignor Falconio, the apostolic dele
gate in the United States. and Monsigno
Agius, the papal delegate in the Philippines
although not accredited to the United State
or Philippine governments, have been en-
trusted to unoffcially communicate the not
to the authorities at Washington and thos
IT Manila.
Monsignor Aversa, the apostolic delegat
to Cuba, being accredited to the Cubai
government. will officially communicate tn
note to the Havana authorities.
New Bill Passed by Deputies.
PARIS, Dec. A.-The governments new
religious measure was received with en-
thusiasm I'm the Chamber Of Deputies toda,
overwhelming majority of hs against Id
Supporters Of the cabinet consider that thi
legislation will greatly strengthen the min
istry for the continuance of the struggl
with the Vatican
Tho discussion Of the bill was short an
confined to NM. Lasies Ralberu, Hbot
Piou and Barres, who represented vartou
political groups.
Premier Clemenceau did not parucipat,
The attitude taken by Minister Of Educa
ton BRAND made great impression espe
cially his statement that the governmen
never intended 70 close the churches or In
terfere with the individual conscience, a
this would permit the clergy 70 assume tn
attitude Of being prosecuted. The cablne
the minister explained had decided to r'
tain the formality OF making declaratio
to hold meetings because 1t was resolve
not to capltulate TO the Vatican, which wa