The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-15
Reason Why France Is Trying
to Drive Out Catholics.
Father Hayden Says Govern
mentI Is Against All Religion.
SEIZE CHURCH LAND.
Everything Being Done to Dis
courage French Christians.
J. B. Billiard Says He Is Not
Posted About Trouble.

A very small per cent of the readers
of the daily papers. who are following
the church war in France, understand
the case. and the average reader is in
the position Of a juryman attempting
TO try a case when he arrived too late
for the testimony of the witnesses.
Even a reader of the head lines may
gather that the French government is
doing something distasteful to the
Catholics, and that the latter are not
inclined to submit tamely to some sort
Of injustice.
The Associated Press Interview with
Cardinal Gibbons shows up some facts
which could not be CLEANED from dis
patches from Paris, which are no doubt
closely inspected by French officials be-
fore they are allowed to reach the out
side world With the intention of get
ting some Information first hand Rev
#. NJ Hayden, of the Church of the
Assumption. was interviewed last even
ing by a State Journal reporter.
Cardinal Gibbons told the story
much more clearly than I could hone
to tell it, said Father Hayden, but it
is hard for any of US who enjoy Amer
lean religious freedom to realize the
extent Of antf-GhriStlan fanaticism
which controls some Ha1 the European
countries. France is In the control Of
infldels, who hate sTeligion, and are
seeking to drive all Christians from the
country This hatred was the result OF
the anti-Jesuit troubles of long ago,
and instead of aba ting, has grown
stronger. over 20 years ago laws were
passed to the detriment of the church.
and a year ago. I believe 1t was De-
cember 10, an act was passed which
was calculated to rob the church of its
property. and drive its priests out Of
the country The church was allowed
3 year to conform with this open at
tack on religion, but even before the
expiration OF the time allowed the
government began confiscating church
property and closing the church col
leges and seminaries. This law re-
quires all religious sects TO secure per
holoing any public services, thereby
giving the state absolute control over
the church, with the power of eviction
and confiscation on the slightest pre-
text The government does not stop at
this. but desires to compel the priests
90 sign documents which give the state
absolute authority
This same anti Christian spirit was
manifest in Germany Is years ago
when Bismarck. on a very nimsy pre-
taxt exiled the Jesuits from that coun-
Gry, but they are back again now, and
eeeminly in hamony with the more len
tent government which now exists
In comparison, the French law which
Is in existence, If applied here would
force the Jesuit college at St Marys to
ask the governor of the state for per-
mission to maintain a school and sign
the governor under penalty Of eviction
from the premises and the conhscation
of the church property by the state 1
would have to ask the governor for per
mission TO hold services in this church.
and would be subject to eviction should
I fail to conform with his ideas as to
how and when the services should be
held
at is a great problem, and one which
the lovers Of freedom in this country