Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-12-27


ed States. But it still claims the IT,
ties to all church property. and will
take possession of all buildings that !,
are not actually used for worship UNI
der the care of an association cul
tuelle." In parishes where the people
refuse to organize such associations
they government will appoint custo-
dams for the property.
This is the purport of the law which
went into effect on Tuesday. Dec. II,
one year from the date of its enact
ment Up till the first of August last
IL was expected that the church would
adjust itself TO the new arrangement.
A convocation of the SO bishops OF
France held on the 31st of May last,
by vote of 50 to Is decided to give
II a fair trial, and adopted plan pre-
pared by Mgr. Fulbert-Petit. arch
bishop of Besancon. providing for the
| organization of ASSOCIATIONS cultu-
ellie for conducting the business af-
fairs of the parishes. without refer
| ence to the doctrines of the church,
| the canonical law, the ritual or the
| form of worship. Three months af-
ter this plan was adopted, and while
measures were being taken in nearly
every parish in France to carry it in
effect, Pope Plus X. published what
is known as his "encyclical gr1issi-
mo-" disappearing of the peaceful
plan of the bishops and forbidding the
clergy and laymen to obey the separa-
ton law 1t said Concerning such
religious associations as the law pro,
scrihes we decree absolutely that they
cannot be formed without violation
of the sacred rights which are the
very light of the church.
1t naturally caused a profound
shock to the Catholic population of
France who compose a very large
part of the Republican party, when
the head of their church forbade them
to obey the law of the land. Twenty
three of the most prominent Catholics
in France, men of eminent ability and
unquestoned loyalty to the church,
prepared an appeal to the holy father
begging him to withdraw or modify
his "encyclical gravissimo.' They
represented to him that the great ma
jority of laymen, clergymen and bish-
ops were satisfied with the new law
and believed it could be obeyed with
out impairing the spiritual influence
of the church, whereas If the law was
defed and disobeyed it would not on
ly cost the church hundreds of mil
lions of frances worth of property
but at will be a miracle if Catholi-
cism does not lose the freater num-
: ber of the faithful"
The appeal set forth very FRANKLY
: the almost unanimous belief of the
!. French Catholics that the holy father
had been deceived and misled re-
, garding his action. 1t reminded him
that he had not conferred with the
French bishops or any other repre-
sentatives of the Catholic church in
= France, but your holiness has pre-
+ ferred to follow the secret decisions
: of a commission composed of German,
), Italian and Spanish prelates, in which
the interest of the French church and
S the faithful people of France were
. represented by only one powerless
| Frenchman." -
No notice whatever was taken OF.
this appeal to the vatican. although
it was sent with the knowledge and
approval of Cardinal Richard and
e prominent bishops of France.
l. Having received no reply to the pro-
d test, the bishops held a second con-
l. vention on the 9th of September and
q revoked their former action and made
a formal submission to the "encyclical
gravissimo." From that moment they
have been in an attitude of opposi-
ton to the government and have in
y structed the clergymen and layment
y throughout the country not to form
5. associations cultuelle" or to take any
l. other steps in obedience to the law.
l. The following are the instructions is
sued by the archbishop of Paris for
the guidance of the faithful:
/, Parish priests, Wears and other
A clericals must remain passive, and
q may not cooperate in any act of Sc,
questration, but If the bishop consH
=, ers that the refusal of the treasurers
i to surrender the keys may cause
grave consequences, he can permit
e them to do so on condition that they
J. do not sign any document concerning
!, the spoilation; bishops may author
e ize Catholic officials to participate in
q sequesters If the refusal would en-
b. danger positions necessary for the
maintenance of their families. but par
ish priests and other Catholics cannot
participate in acts of sequestration in
any manner unless the sequestered
ecclesiastical property is permitted to
pay rent to the public administrator
t or unless the contract cannot be brok
= en- without heavy loss. Churches
| presbeteries, Episcopal mansions
i. seminaries and other church build
ngs which are seized cannot be rent
ed, except in case of absolute neces-
sity and after the administrator has
signed declaration not to attempt in
any wise to abridge the liberty of the
, lessees. If called to the colors (con-
: scripted into the army ecclesiastics
, muSt apnaal IN tho cnunciI of state