Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-12
PONTIFF Tells
OF PERSECUTION
Of HIERARCHY
Certain of Church's
Final Victory
EncycIicaI Published in Rome Defines
Position of the Vatican on
New Law-Open War
Declared
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
PARIS, Jan. 12.-Thc newspapers this
morning comment mt length on the
pOpe's cncyIicnI. Most of them agree
that II shows there il n necessity for
negotiations, but the clerical and anti
clerical organs Disagree regarding who
should begin them. The Figaro con-
siders the document Incomplete and
fOresees the publication of another Civ
ing Instructions for the organization of
worship.
The Steele declares the encylicaI is
rich in condolences but says 1t does not
remedy the situation.
The GauIOis and SOleiI, clerical, con-
slider the document n clean exposition
of the doctrine of leaving a solution of
the difficulties TO Christian faith.
The view of the socialists and free
thinkers Is expressed by Humanite,
which declares that the pope's sole de-
sire is to sustain the Roman hiernrchy's
absOIutism and autOcracy before every
other consideration and without refer
ence to the opinions of the flock.
BY Associated Press.
ROME, Jan. 1.-THE Osservatore
Romano, the organ of the Vatican, to-
day published the text of an encyclical
addressed by Pope Plus x to "our vener-
able brothers, the cardinals, bishops
and clergy and the French people," In
this document the ponitff said his chief
object in addressing the faithful in
France was to comfort them in their
sufferings, which he felt deeply.
There was, however, great consolation
in the fact that the Catholics of France
were united. The French governments
declaration of war was not only against
the Christian faith but against all
spiritual ideas. The French Catholics
must be prepared for all sorts of trials,
but they were certain of final victory.
Contrary to statements on the subject,
the church did not desire religious
war involving violent prosecutions. Be
ing a missionary of peace and carrying
out her mission Loyalty, the church did
not willingly expose herself to war and
prosecutions, as she did not desire to
see her children suffering. Regarding
the ecclesiastical properties, the encycli-
cal said the pope had not abandoned
them.
Continuing, the pontiff said:
I'VE have been accused of prejudice
and Inconsistency. 1t has been said
that we refused to approve in France
what we had already approved in Ger
many. But this reproach is unjust and
unfounded, for while the German law is
condemnable on many points and was
officially accepted in order to avoid
greater evils, the situations are very
different The German law explicitly
recognizes the Catholic hierarchy while
the French does not.
Church Knows Poverty
Although her divine founder was
born poor in a stable and died poor on
the cross, and although the church
knows poverty from the cradle, the
property she was possessed of neverthe-
less belongs to her and no one has the
right to deprive her of it. This owner
ship has been officially sanctioned by
the state.
1.-The statement that the government
disposed of the abandoned property of
the church is adding derision to spolia-
ton.
From the point of view of the ex-
ercise of religion the new law has or
ganized anarchy. 1t instals a regime
of uncertainty and arbitrariness. There
Is uncertainty as to whether the
churches which are always liable to
disaffection shall or shall not in the
meanwhile be at the disposal of the
clergy and faithful. In each parish the
priest will be in the power of the mu
bility of conflicts in all parts of the
country. In addition the clergy are
under an obligation to meet the heavi-
est expenses, while their sources of
revenue are subject to the strictest
limitations.
1.-The new law aggravates the law
separating church and state. We can
only condemn it with precision and
without ambiguity. Certain articles of
the law throw new light on the real
stroy the church and de-Christianize
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 responsibility"
In conclusion Pope Plus X appeals to
the judgment of history, which, he
says, will recognize the papacy, in act
ing as it has, did so because it did
not wish to humiliate any trivial Of
ficials or oppose any form of govern
ment, but he defended with all it's
strength the work of the divine founder
Of the church, demanding respect for
the hierarchy and the inViolablity of
it's property and liberty"
The papacy wished to remind the
world that "man must concern him
self here below with higher ideals than
the occurrences of every day life and
that supreme, invincible joy of the
human soul on earth is to accomplish
it's spiritual duty at all costs and thus
in spite of all, honor, serve and love
God"
EncvcIicaI Published In Paris