Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-12-11
DARK DAYS FOR
FRENCH CATHOLICS
Church Property to
be Confiscated by
State Tomorrow.
WOMEN WEPT AND PRAYED
Extremists Urge Radical Ac-
ton from Both Sides
Without Success.

Paris. Dec. l1,--This Is an historic
day in France The struggle which
began in 1850 with the banishment OF
the Jesnits ended today with a legal
rupture Of the bond which for practic
ally a thousand years had united the
church and state, The law of 1881
concerning public Catholic worship,
except under schismatic organization
tomorrow becomes illegal.
Touching Scenes in the Churches.
The scenes in some of the church
es We're extremely touching Not in
years has there been such an attend
ance at mass. The number of women
was especially large and was note
worthy as an indication of the re-
ligious indifference of the male popu-
lation. Although seyen.eighths of
the inhabitants of The city are noml-
nally Catholics in no part of the city
were the churches crowded. Even at
Notre Dame, where solemn high mass
was celebrated, the ediice was only
half filed The officiating clergy
read the regular offices without re-
ferring to the Illegal status tomor-
row.
Women Wept AS They Prayed.
Nevertheless the depression of the
Catholics was manifested and many
women were moved to tears as they
knelt in the churches On the eve of
the struggle it is becoming evident
that both the government officials and
the higher ecclesiastics are resisting
the advice Of the Incorporate. The
minister of public worship BRAND, an
nounces that the government Cannot
be driven into the trap of closing the
churches" and Cardinal Richard,
archbishop of Paris has strongly CEN
sured the placarding of appeals to the
clergy to make violent resistance to
the officers. "No violence is wanted"
he says, "but only passive resistance
to an unjust law, after eXhausting all
protests at every step"
Theological Students Must Enter
Army.
War Minister Picquart has ordered
the recruiting officers to require all
ecclesiastc students to present their
certificates tomorrow Those who
Tail to do so by December 20 will be
ordered to join their coors. This or
der affects $500 students.
cIersymen Driven From Their Homes.
Formal notice was served during
the day on Cardinal Richard, the
Archbishop of Paris, and Bishops and
Parish Priests in this department to
vacate their residences tomorrow
Similar notices were served on the
clergy in other departments notifying
them to leave their residences on
Thursday or Friday.
Police Expe Secretary to PapaI
Nuncio.
Monsignor Montagnini, secretary to
the papal nuncio since the recall of
the nunco, was arrested this after
noon in Paris upon an order expell-
ing him from France and will be con-
Quoted to the frontier tonight. His
residence was searched by the police.
France Widens Breach With Church.
Paris, France, Dec. 11.-After a
meeting of the cabinet ministers to-
day it was announced that on Decem-
Der IA. Premier Clemenceau will ask
Parliament to suppress the pensions
of all clergy, to liquidate the public
property of the Catholics and to dis
tribute the presbyteres, seminaries,
etc. 1t is also positively stated that
the government has decided to eXpel
from France Monsignor Montagnini,
secretary to the papal muncio here at
Paris. who has represented the Vati-
can since the recall of the papal
nuncio.
Sienor MirabelIix Would Congratu-
late France.
Signor Mirabellix, a Republican, at
the opening of today's session of the
Chamber of Deputies, in Rome, intro.
duced a resolution, which was adopt
ed to the effect that the Chamber
sent its warm congratulations to
France on her .anti-clerical policy.
The resolution read as follows:
Tending to secularize the state
and to render the human conscience
independent"
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