The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-10
FACES 4
 CRAVE SITUATION Deadlock Complete Between
 Church and State P0PE's ORDER CONFIRMED
DepIorable Consequences Feared by Government from Pontiff's Rejection of Proffer Under Which Catholic
 Worship Could Be Continued.

Paris, December 9.-France tonight seems to face an alarming religious crisis. Last nights reports of the Pope's eleventh-hour rejection of the govern ment's final proffer, under which Catho- lie worship could be continued under the common law, turns out to be only too true and the deadlock now is apparently complete. According to the holy father orders, declarations under the law of 1881 are prohibited, but parish priests must remain in their churches until driven out by violence.
 The official confirmation of this com munication has created q sensation both in government and Catholic circles. Car dinal Lecot, archbishop of Bordeaux; Archbishop Germain and others who al- ready had advised compliance with the law, have hastily instructed the parish priests of their dioceses that their former advice is null and void, and today in all the churches of Paris bishops and priests after mass read the letter from Cardinal Richard, archbishop of Paris, communi- eating the decision of the Holy See to continue services in the churches. but abstain from any declaration" and Car dinal Richards own instructions in view of the order issued by the prefect of the Seine yesterday, not to permit for the present the employment of ceremonial draperies at marriages or funerals.
 The church wardens, whose legal exls- tence expires next Tuesday, were thanked today in the pulpits of the various churches Prayers were offered for the protection of God during the coming pe- riod of persecution.
 The government regards the action of the pontiff as little less than summons of the French Catholics to open rebellion, as rendering the situation exceedingly grave, and possibly entalllng me most ue- plorable consequences.
 Premier Clemenceau and NJ Briand, minister of public worship, were in con ference all day today. There is no sign of the government faltering, but 1t recog- nizes that it may be forced to resort to drastic measures.
 M. Briand said today that the decision of the Pope was entirely unexpected.
 Governmers posItion. '.rhe encyelicai is very grave said M Brand. While condemning the law Of 1905, it advised recourse to the common law. "A lIG IeluSdi CO Aoi III ehh associations was, in my opinion, an error and to the detriment of the church. 1t was the churchs legal right so to refuse. In spirit of conciliation out of respect to the consciences of the French Catholics, and in order to do nothing to dlsturD peace and tranquility, the government thereupon prescribed this easy means or continuing worship by a simple declara- tion in accordance with the law of 1881. The Popes brutal order to the clergy to reject this offer, practically 1ncites them to violate the laws of the country. He no longer acts as the spiritual head or the church as the the canonical objections against the law of 1905 cannot be invoked against that of 1881. The Pope now as sumes a political leadership, and the vital question is, whether the Catholics of If they do, the government will act with f they do. the government will act with even greater energy because of the tol- erance it has manifested heretofore.
 Every violation of the law will be prosecuted, and furthermore special measures. legislative and otherwise, may be taken"
 The special measures referred to by NJ Briand are those intmated by Premier -Clemeencau in the chamber of deputies, namely. to strip the clergy of their priv ileges, compel them to perform military service and as a last resort to treat them as foreign subJects
 Militant Catholics Rejoice.
 Militant Catholics are rejoicing at the stern attempt of the Pope A religious organ says the faithful can now face the future with serenity, and "show the prosecutors of the church that the Daugh- ter of Eternity disdans the efforts or wicked men and will triumph ln the end"
 The decision of the vatican, which is in the form of answers to specific questions, has been summarized as follows:
 Parish priests, vcars, etc., must re- main passive and may not cooperate in any act of seauestration, but if the bishop considers that the refusal of the meas ures to surrender the keys may cause grave consequences, he can permit them to do so on condition that they do not sign any document consecratlng the spoil ation; bishops may authorize Catholic organizations to participate in sequesters if the opposition will not endanger main tenance of the edifce, but parish priests and other Catholics cannot participate in acts of sequestration in any manner unless the seouestered ecclesiastical property is permitted to pay rent to the public ad- ministrator or unless the contract cannot be broken without heavy loss; churches, presbyteries, episcopal mansions, semina- rjes etc. which are seized. cannot be tented except in case of absolute neces- si,v, and after the administrator has signed declaration not to attempt in any wise to abridge the liberty of the lessee; if called to the colors, ecclesiastics must
 must appeal to the council of state, but pending the councils decision should their failure to respond to the call subject them to the penalty of assertion, they can re- port for service and if cultural assoca- lions are formed the parish priests must remain in his church and continue to say mass until driven out by violence. If q schismatic priest appears the legitimate priest must leave the church, first warn ing his parishioners he must not partic nate in any schismatlc service.