The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-01-12
IMPORTANT ENCYCLICAL
 TO FRENCH CATHOLICS
(cOntInued from First Page,

had the right to expect. Nevertheless, 10 obYlate worse evils, the church might have tolerated making declar- ations, but laying down that the clergy shall be only occupants of the churches, without any legal status, and without the right to perform any administra- tive act in the exercise of their minis try, placed them in such a vague and humiliating position that the making of declarations could not be accepted.
 It remains to examine the law re- gently voted by the chambers From the point of view of church property, the law is law of spoiliation and con- fiscation, and has consummated the pil-i lage of the church. Although her di- vine founder was born poor in sta- ble and died poor on the cross, and al- though she knows poverty from the cradle, the property she was possessed of none the less belonged to her, and no one had the right to deprive her of 1t. This ownership, indisputably hers, from every point of view, has been of-. nclally sanctioned by the state.
 The statement that the government disposed of the abandoned properties Of the church is adding derision to spoiliation.
 From the point of view of the exer- else of religion the new law has orr ganized anarchy. It installs a regime of uncertainty and arbitration. There is uncertainty as to whether the churches, which are always liable ito disaffection, shall or shall not be in the meanwhile be at the disposal of the clergy and the faithful. In each par ish the priest will be in the power of the municipality, with the consequent possibility of conflicts in all parts of the country. In addition the clergy are under an obligation to meet the heaviest expenses, whiletheir sources of revenue are subjected to the strctest limitations. The new law aggravates the law separating church and state. We can only condemn it with preci- sion and without ambiguity. Certain articles of the law throw new light on the aim of our enemies. They wish to distroy the church and de-Christianize France without attracting too closely the attention of the people. If their course was really popular, as they pre- tend it is, they would pursue it openly, and take all the responsibilities.
 Instead of against the rising tide of popular reproduction the government at- tempts to throw the responsibility on the church, its victim, but the object will not succeed. As for us we have done our duty as any Roman pontiff would have done It.. The high offices we'll as our faint in Christ determined our line of conduct, and we could not have acted otherwise without betraying our conscience or breaking the oath we took when we mounted the throne of St. Peter.
 Therefore, we await fearlessly the verdict of history, which must be that with our eyes fixed unceasingly on the transcendent rights of God we did not intend to humiliate the civil power nor combat a form of government, but only to safeguard the spiritual temple of Christ.
 What we demanded and demand for the church, of which France is the eld- est daughter in respect to her heir archy, the inviolability of her property and liberty. If that had been granted the religious peace would not have been disturbed, and the day our demand is needed the longed for peace will be restored.
 Assured In advance of your mag nanimous generosity we did not hesi- tate to tell you that the hour for sacri- flee had struck and to recall to the world in the name of the master of all things that man here below must have a goal above the perishabe things of earth, and that God honored, served and loved despite all is supreme joy"
 The encyclical concludes as follows
 Tn full confidence of the virgin im- maculate, daughter of our Father, mother of the word spouse of the Holy Ghost. will obtain for you from the most holy and adorable Trinity better days, from the bottom of our heart we give you, venerable brothers, and the whole nn11la nl1r anostnltn honnd to+in,, js