Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09
FEAR CHURCH STRIFE
Prospect of Trouble Over the
French Separation Law.
FIRM ATTITUDE OF THE POPE
May Incite Violence On the Part Of
the CleIicals.
APPEALS TO PARIS CATHOLICS
Many Contradictory Views Held by
Bishops Will Be Reconciled by
Statement From Rome.
FIRM ATTITUDE OF THE POPE
APPEALS TO PARIS CATHOLICS

PARIS December Son December II the
church and state separation law goes into
effect in Paris and on December y and 13
1t will be enforced in the various DEPART
ments, according to the time when copies
of the official journal. containing the notice
OF the PRONUNCIATION of the law of 1905.
reached them. The government is facing
the situation with frmness and caimness.
but the prospect of an acute religious
crisis has suddenly been increased by what
appears to be an authoritative announce
ment made by the Croix, the clerical organ.
that word has just arrived from Rome that
the pope absolutely forbid5 Catholic
bishops. cures or parishioners to make ap-
plicat.on to hold religious services under
the public meeting law of 1881, as proposed
by the government. The Croix stated that
this interdicted the single annual applica-
ton which Minister of Public Worship
BRAND had announced sufficient.
The Journal des Debats says the pope
used the words: Il am like the father of a
family cannot permit outsiders 10 enter
my house and regulate the interests of my
children without consulting me-"
Complications Likely.
If such is the final decision of the Vati-
can the situation will be greatly compli-
Gated. as it is likely to be interpreted by the
clericals a final summons not to yie,d
an inch and may arouse violence on the
part of the Incorporate. who already are
placarding the walls of Paris with ap-
peals to the Catholics to resist to the BIT
ter end. On the other hand. clerical dis
lurbances might justify the government in
using extreme measures, although it plainly
is the desire of Premier Clemenceau and NJ
BRAND to avoid the appearance of persecu-
+ q fbn noh hiS.,-
ops, who, in despair of receiving final in
structions from Rome. had begun to issue
pastoral letters of advice to their priests
and church warde1s, to hastily revise
those documents which arr of the most
contradictory nature being according to
the individual views and desires of the writ
erS
May Use Force.
Cardinal Lecot and Archbishop German,
who have consistently favored submission
to the law and had already advised compli-
ance with it, pointed out that it's application
was simply Formally. a single applica lion
annually suffcing. while Ultramontanes like
the bishop of Chaons had instructed their
cures TO continue to celebrate mass without
making an application until elected from
their churches. to make duplicate copies of
the deeds and not to surrender except to
force. Others Ike Mgr. Couille, archbishop
of Lyons, fearing there might be a change
Of views at Rome. took the precaution of
directing their cures not to comply with
the law until further orders"
Others still evaded the point altogether,
and simply instructed their cures to con-
tinue their services as before. The bishop
of Nice advised refusal to comply with the
law on the ground that the people OF Mari
time Alps, having voluntarily accepted
French rule in 1850, Were still bound by the
treaty previously made with the Vatican.
Collection of Fees.
In the meantime the government has COM
pleted preparations to enforce the law NJ.
CailIaux, minister of finance. has sent a
circular to the treasury officials instructing
them to sequester all church property which
is not claimed under the law and to admin
lister it according to the law governing prop
erty whose owners are absent from France
and to force the doors of the church safes
If the wardens decline to surrender the
keys NJ. Guyot-Dessagne, minister of jus
tice has instructed the public prosecutors
to be prepared to prosecute those who hold
services without making the application nee
essary under the law of 1881.
The project of the Seine has posted no.
tees throughout the city informing all fam
lies that after December II they must ap-
DIV to the mayors of their districts for the
funeral trappngs used in the churches. NJ.
BRAND has prohibited the collection of fees
by cures for marriages or funeral services.