Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-20
= PARALLEL.

On a former occasion NC have, IN
these columns. referred TO the slander-
Gus stories circulated about Catholics
IN France for consumption abroad.
enc OF these stories WAS 10 the effect
that petition had been sent 10 tho
pope, signed by several thousand
French priests. asking that the law Il
cclibacy for the clergy be annullcd,
Such "A petition had not been dreamed
o. much less signed hy anybody.
The Paris correspondent Of the New
York Mail calls attention to another
story, published by the Matin. Thar
wide awake journal had. some time
ago an exposure OF alleged shocking
conditions in a training school for girls
in southern France, conducted by nuns
who had escaped expulsion by reason
OF their charitable work placing them
in the category of mixed congrega-
tons a series OF sensational stories
told Of the shameful vicious aud per-
verted cruelty Indicted upon young
girls Of refined and estimablc families.
An escaped victim was the informant
and she was portrayed as an abused
heroine. while the superior Of the
school and four other nuns were ar
rested.
At the trial The correspondent says.
It was proved that the school Was
refo,matory Tor hayward aud iucorrig-
lbe young women; the punishmeuts
only such as are usual and necessary
to enforce discipline, and the sponsor
for the charges an employee OF the
Maun. whose entrance and escape
and subsequent testimony had all been
planned beforehand.
Another story which, IT Is thought,
win And credcnco In American papers
as soon as II finds its way there. re-
lates 10 the alleged sale of a Cardinals
hat. I'm Thar story an American is the
hero. He pays S1,ooo,OOO 10 the Pope
and in rourn is promised The nominal
tlon Of an American cardinal.
Tho writer quoted maintains that
the circulation Of such false stories Is
part OF a war not upon the Vatican
bur upon the Christian religion in gen
cral Aud Ia proof of this assertion
he quotes the following extracts from
The dcbnie In the Chamber of Deputies
oi The separation bill;
Minister BRAND. The republic must
bo freed from al the Hes Of religion.
M Rrisson. president OF the cham
Der OF Deputies THE separation of
church and state Is The sole means OF
communicating the ruin OF divinity aud
The enfranohisement of conscience from
all exterior power.
Deputy Beauauier. 'reachlng the
catechism to child constitutes an Ina
moral niutilation OF It's reason
PROF. Debierro, of the University of
| Frame. AN religions are old rubbish
which humanity. moving onward, must
| discard.
minister Niviani; United, we dhe
! members Of the present government
are engaged IN the work NJ onii-cleri-
calism-ihat Is 10 say. the work ~ ir-
religion. We have wrelched the bu-
man conscience from belief; when an
! unfortunate Is seen bending the knee.
| we have told him that nothing exists
| beyond the clouds united, we have ex-
tinguished the lights IN the heavens,
and they never viii b8 reilt.'"
We again refer to the controversy in
France. because It illustrates very
clearly the length 10 which adversarles
OF a religion win go IN misreprosenta-
lions and misstatements. to gain an
end. The people OF Utah have been
similarly mlsrepresented. and for a
similar purpose In Utah toe, the os-
tenslble attacks upon hierarchy that
does not exist Is really Nghl against
religion Itself II Is not the Vatican
that Ia the real issue N France. Nor
Is II tho alleged hierarchy that il oh.
jectlonahle 10 Utah atheists. II is the