The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-12-13
POLICE IN CHURCHES
French Government Sends Gen.
darmes to Observe Viola
tons of New Law.
PoPULAcE REMAINS CALM.
Militant Catholics In Minority and
Masses Either Indifferent or Siding
With Ministry-Authorities Decide to
Take Over Ecclesiastical Property at
once-lmportant Papers Seized.

once-lmportant Papers Seized.
Paris, Dec 13.-The clergy of Paris
issued special appeals to their parish
ioners to be present in the churches at
outside the pale of the law. The gov
ernment, however, purposes to proceed
gently. The services were not broken
up, but policemen were in attendance
to note infractions of the law and cite
officiating priests or their assistants
before tie nearest Justice Of the peace.
Thel chief danger Of disorders in Par
is lies in the possible Inv aston Of
churches by ruifiahs and free thinkers.
Reserves of gendarmes will be sta
toned at various points throughout the
city to guard against trouble.
The efforts made by certain members
of the chamber of deputies and other
disinterested persons to insure a con-
tinuation of services in churches in
spite of the papal veto by inducing
Catholic laymen in each parish to make
the forbidden declaration have not
met with much success.
Militant churohmen In Minority.
The indications are against anything
which might be dignified by the name
of religious war, and the prompt ex-
pulsion from France of Mgr. Montag-
mini, secretary Of the papal nuncia-
pei all recalcitrant clergymen from
France. has had a SOLDERING influence.
The militant Catholics are in hope
less minority, and the masses are Ell
ther Indifferent or inclined to side with
the government
So far as church property is involy-
ed, the episcopal mansions, the recto-
ries, the seminaries and other homes,
prelates of all rank are prepared to ac-
cept the notices served upon them to
move out after protesting and refus-
ing to sign documents of disposses-
sion. 1t is reported that dozens of
cultural or diocesan societies are in
the course of formation at the last
moment in various departments.
To Take Over Church Property.
The government has decided to take
over Immediately the buildings belong
ing to the ecclesiastics, stop the pen
sions Of the clergy, compel aspirants to
the priesthood to fulfill their military
obligations and if necessary treat the
clergy as subJe of foreign power.
The reception of Premier Clemenceaus
speech in the chamber of deputies also
shows that he has parliament at his
back.
The papers seized in the papal nun
ciature placed In the governments
| hands important evidence. which may
prove exceedingly embarrassing to the
Vatican IL open war is to take place.
They include besides all the diplomatic
records covering the correspondence
exchanged before the ruptkre with the
Vatican recent Instructions from Car
dinal Merry del Val, the papal secre-
tary Of state; a mass of letters from
preiates all over the world and letters
In the handwriting of deputies of the
Right party.
Cause of Montagnini's Expulsion.
The formal charge on which Mgr.
Montagnini was expelled was that he
carried out an order contained in a tel
egram from Papal Secretary of State
Merry del Val, dated Dee. s, to in-
struct the French clergy to refuse to
make applications under the law of
1881 or obey the law of 1905.
That some of The Liberal Catholics
disapprove of the intransigent attitude