Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29
FRANCE AND CHURCH
Story of the Expulsion of the
Orders.
CHANGE IN PAPAL POLICY
Government Antagonized by Merry
del Val.
CHARGES AGAINST THE MONKS
Legislation Enacted Divorcing the
State From Connection With
Religious Institutions.
CHANGE IN PAPAL POLICY
CHARGES AGAINST THE MONKS
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
81 r.
Special Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.

Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
PARIS, September 8, 1906,
To appreciate the significance of the
present struggle between the Catholic
Church and the government of France 1t is
necessary to know a little recent history.
1t is not entirely a religious fight. 1t Is
partially economical and political. In the
first place the clergy, speaking generally.
have been antagonistic to the republic, and
have supported the party which has been
working feebly to restore the ancient
monarchy. This attitude on the part of
the nobility. the arstocracy and the clergy
did not meet with the approval of the late
pope, nor that of Cardinal Rampolla, who
directed the political policy and the diplo-
matte negotiations of the holy see with
pre-emnent ability. Both of them repeat
eddy urged the faithful to support the gov
eminent and bring it under the influence
of the church, instead OF permitting it to
be controlled by free thinkers and Free
masons. But since Merry del Val has been
in charge of the foreign affairs of the holy
the old policy has been reversed, the
church has antagonized the republic and
quarreled with the government. The cham
Der OF deputies has retalated with radical
legislation. until now matters are about as
bad as they can possibly be.
Napoleon made peace with the church in
order to secure the support of the Catholic
population. He agreed to pay the salaries
of all the secular clergy, or parish priests,
the bishops. archbishops and the French
cardinals, provided the government might
nominate the bishops. From that time
til recently. whenever bishopric been
vacant, the government has submitted a
list of able and deserving clergymen from
among whom the pope has filled the va
cancies. and about $S,G00OOO have been
paid annually from the public treasury
salaries to the priests.
The Break With France.
A few years ago, shortly after the cleo
ton of Plus y, and the appointment of
Merry del Val as papal secretary Of state
tho trouble began. The pope refused to ap-
point the nominees of the government to
several vacant sees because of their al
legged liberal views. but the real reason was
that they were republicans instead Of reac-
tonaries, and were therefore offensive to
Merry del Val.
While this controversy was going on
President Loubet went to Rome to confer
with the King of Italy concerning several
important international matters. and after
repeated consultations IL was decided that
he should not cross the gulf that separates
the Vatican from the Quirnal, because he
was there at the invitation and as the guest
of the Quirtnal. The pope was SO annoyed
that he sent formal protest to all the gov
erEments of Europe. Protestant as well as
Catholicism unprecedented act The proper
the protest to the French government, either
through the nuncio at Paris or the French
ambassador to the Vatican. This also was
the act of Merry del Van, and it Is believed.
that he did it deliberately and expected 1t
to be interpreted as an affront to the
French government and its ambassador to
the holy see.
Charges Regarding the Schools.
Certain developments In the Dreyfus case
stirred up an intense public Indignation par
among the radical republicans and
the Jewish population, which is very rich
and influential in France. 1t was disclosed
that peculiar relations existed between the
National Military Academy of ST. Cyr the
West Point of France. and a certain pre-
paratory school in the Rue de la Poste
Paris. which is In charge of Jesuts. 1t was
that candidates from the latter
school were given such vluable advice and
other advantages in the Standardization
admissions to ST. Cyr that. the system
being competitive, the Jesuits practically
controlled the selection and the early edu-
cations of the officers OF the army great
deal was made OF this by the anti-clerical
press and politicians. the radical members
Of the chamber of deputies and others. who
charged that there was a conspiracy to
prejudice the military forces in favor of a
monarchy and against the repub bic.
similar charge was made concerning
parochial schools and other educational
kept by monks, nuns and the
teaching brotherhood and sisterhood of
the Catholic Church. They were accused
or converting the raw material furnished
them by republican families into ardent
1t was asserted that young
children. girls as well as boys, belonging
to republican families were being taught
that republican form of government
was not suitable TO the French people
1t was also charged that certain bish-
ops and priests in different parts of the
country were trying to destroy the free
government schools by refusing to con-
firm children who attended them
Certain manufacturing industries have
long complained of the direct COMPETE
ton from the products of monasteries
and farms, factories and vine |
yards owned and operated by the church. |
which paid no taxes. The best liquors
wines and brandies in France were pro-
1uced by the monks; the best laces EN-.
broideries and linen work in the Paris |
market were produced by nuns and by the |
pupils in the convent schools These pro-
ulcers paid no taxes and entered into di- |
rect competition with private citizens |
1rms and corporations which were heav- |
ly taxed.
Taxing Productive Church Property. !
The interests thus affected combined |
md secured the passage of a law placing
he monastic orders, both monks and |
nuns. upon the same basis as other cor
)orations and taxing all church property
hat was not actually used for worship.
The secular clergy, as the parish priests