The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-01-21
EpiscOpate Of France Ended
Session Saturday
ULTRAM ONTANES WON
Results Constitute Complete Reafirma-
tiOn Of the Refusal Of the Pope to
Accept Terms Of Church and
State Separation Law.

Paris, Jan 21The result Of the
meeting Of The French episcopate, which
ended yesterday, was complete victory
for the ultramontanes, as II constitutes
an emphatic reahirmation Of the refusal
Of the pope to accept the terms Of the
church and state separation law. The
decision to maintain the status quo on
the main question Of worship was prac-
ticalIy unanimous
The ultimate recourse to private wor
ship although kept in the background,
is a logical consequence Of the policy
adopted BIS the prelates, and the bishops
viii direct the parish priests, Il the lat
ter are prosecuted for celebrating mass
illegally, ID allow themselves To be con-
demned, but not to pay their fines and,
instead, 40 to prison. IN other words,
Tagitate by passive resistance" according
to the view taken Of the matter by one
Of the distinguished eeelesiastics.
The government however. has already
arranged to avoid being invited to en-
gage in persecution on this score BY ac-
cepting the modification Of the law Of
1881, introduced a. bill in the chamber
Of deputies January u by Etienne Flan-
din, Republican, and repeating the see,
tions of that law requiring a declara,
tion in order 70 bold public meetings.
which is designed 20 put an end 10 the
further prosecution Of priests for ceIe-
brating mass without having made the
necessary declaration.
The governments action in agreeing 10
the modification enables the parish
priests to continue celebrating masses
in the churches and at the same time
giving those who do comply with the
law the "iudiciai status which the pope
demanded
Among the minor decisions of the epis-
copate was one to prohibit the clergy
from paying rent fol- any property for.
merly belonging to the church wardens,
as SO doing might be construed into .
recognition OF the contiseation Of the
property; but To permit the priests 10
pay rent for presbyteries belonging to
communes and also To encourage the
heirs Of persons who bequeathed funds
to the church 10 provide for the celebra-
! ton 81 masses for tho repose Of the
souls Of The dead to enter recovery suits,
with the understanding that. Il success
| full, the money is to be turned over to
the church
The pope has approved Of the decision
Of the episcopate to legally reorganize
the seminaries into superior theological
schools, thus insuring the recruiting Of
the clergy
The divergent views Of the press on
the address Of the episcopate to the pope
published Friday, may be summarized in
the following extracts.
The Seoleil remarks @Tbe address
recalls the noblest traditions of the
church Of France The unity among the
bishops viii result in unity among the
faithful"
On the other hand, the Steele said
"The relations between the pope and the
| preiates are ambiguous. No skill in
drafting the address can conceal the
/ disadvantages OF the situation, except
from those who are neither initiated
nor forewarned.N
The .Aurore asserts that nothing could
be more commonplace than the address,
addingi
Regarding submission TO French in
stitutions' the prelates seem to take the
public foN fools
The meeting Of the episcopate ended
Saturday afternoon with benediction
service.