Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30


regard to the spiritual interests involved.
The communicates of the Catholic Church
are about evenly divided in support OF the
Vatican on one side and the government on
the other. The Vatican has the support OF
the old nobility. the monarchists, the con-
servatives generally and the women almost
unanimously. The government has about
half the bishops, and some people claim that
tWo-thirds are secretly lending their SYM
pathy to it, and the educated middle classes
generally. 1t is supported by republican or
ganiZa tionS without regard to the religious
rela lions of the members.
Protestants, Jews and other religious or
CARNATIONS have already accepted the sit
uation and complied with the law, although
it does not go into effect until next Decem-
Der.
Cardinal Richard. archbishop of Paris and
the highest ecclesiastical authority in
France has been on friendly terms with the
government, and l have been assured by
prominent Catholics that he was in favor
of complying with the laws, that he saw no
difficulty in adjusting the affairs OF the
church to it without FORGETTING any of Its
rights weakening its influence But he
is a very old man, over ninety years of age,
and his infirmit!es prevent him from taking
an active part in the controversy. His
young coadjutor, Bishop Amet. the actual
head of the church in France. is said to
approve of the encyclical and to have en-
Outraged Merry del Val and the cardinals
of the curia at Rome to persuade the pope
to defy the French republic. He was one
of the minority of fifteen who voted against
the adoption OF the plan of Archbishop Full
bert Petit.
Appeals to the Pope.
Being aware of this fact twenty-three
of the most prominent French Catholics,
academicans and lawyers. men of emf
nent ability and unquestioned loyalty to the
church, IN July last presented an appeal
to the holy father begging him not to in
terfere. The document was entitled: "A
Supplication from a Group of French
Catholics to Pope Plus * and is said
to have been drawn with remarkable abil-
ity. But no notice was ever taken OF 1t
at the Vatican. Its receipt was never ac-
knowledged, and some of my Catholic
friends here are confident that the holy
father never saw it; that it was pigeon
holed before it reached him. They also
believe that he is the victim OF serious
misrepresentation, because, in the text OF
the "Ency clical Gravissimo" appears a
statement which everybody who is aware
of what has occurred in France-every
newspaper reader-knows to be untrue. 1t
| absolutely contradicts the semi-offical re-
ports of what took place in the assembly
of French bishops on the 31st of May last.
| In writing his letter the pope assumes. al
| though he does not directly assert, that
| the assembly of bishops decided to resist
| the law whereas every church paper in
| France, and nearly every secular paper,
| published accounts of the proceedings
| which decided upon submission to the law
| and the adoption Of the plan have de-
| scribed 1t is impossible to believe that
| Plus x consciously made such a mistake.
| The only inference is that some designing
| person has miSrepresented the facts to him.
| Assuming that to be the case, many Cath
Ole members of the republican party in
| France have addressed another appeal beg
! ging him to reconsider his determination to
defy the law. 1t is very strong and con-
vincing document, and if it ever reaches
| him 1t will probably give him very serious
| thoughts. 1t boldly asserts that he has
been deceived concerning the opinions and
| actions of the French bishops, who. by
| their reverence for him and the discipline
| of the church, are prevented from informing
| him of that fact. 1t declares that it was
the bishops and unhappiy, not yourself
| most holy father, who originally told us
of the results of that conference But your
| holiness preferred to follow the secret de-
| cision of the commission composed OF Ger
man, Italian and Spanish prelates, in which
the interests of the French church and the
| faithful people of France were represented
| by only one powerless Frenchman.
Effect of Separation Act.
| The document proceeds to show that the
law of separation does not affect any ques-
ton of doctrine or the spiritual interest Of
the people, and declares that If such were
the case they would be willing to make
any sacrifice to prevent its enforcement.
It's only effect is to leave to legal associ-
atoms the administration, under purely
formal control, of millions of francs worth
Of church property" The appeal points
out that it is scarcely worth while for the
church to object to that procedure when
it's action involves the ownership of that
property, and, the writer adds, 1T will be
a miracle if Catholicism does not also lose
the greater number of the faithful. We
are Catholics and we remain on your side, :"
the appeal continues, I'VE will remain
Catholics even in the destruction of the
church by a fratricidal war which may
happen; but, holy father, do not blame
US, living do in a country of clear
ideas, if we are anxious to know the real
and effective reason of this unexpected non
| nd he dor finy,
which was based this verdict for which we
were not prepared, and which will certainly
lead. you yourself agree, to many and
great trials.
There has not yet been time to receive
. an answer to this remarkable remonstrance,
and several Of the gentlemen who were
engaged in Its preparation tell me that they
do not expect one. They fear that Merry
! del Val has closed every avenue by which
they can reach Plus x, and that he will
never know their side of the case.
. | In the meantime the anti-clericals, the
radicals, the atheists and every enemy O!
: the church in France are rejoicing over the
situation. The answer of the government to
the pope's encyclical is an official order
from Mr. Clemenceau, minister of the In
terror, to the projects and magistrates OF
, every city and town in France, to see thai
I every religious school is closed and thai
: every monk and nun is expelled from the
country.
Mr.. BRAND, minister of public worship
: has sent a circular to the municipal au-
llloIllleS SNCIyWHe SoltdliilIio d SACdi uSH
3 milton Of the meaning and intent of the
l law, and inclosing regulations for its en-
3 forcement. He cautions them, however
, to take no measures to prevent public
worship in the usual place and to confine
themselves to earnest efforts to encourage
l the organization of the communicates o.
the parishes into Associations Cultaelles,
as they are called, which will be giver
3 authority to take possession of the churcl
4 property and provide for a continuance
y Of public worship. His injunctions, two
tor in,oc tod re- tn al
harsh measures, to exercise patience t
e sc persuasion, and above all, to avoit
exciting the passions of the people.