Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20
SUPPORT FOR CHURCH
Attitude of French Government
is Resented in Italy.
SENTIMENT OF THE PUBLIC
Noticeable Growth of Friendly Feel
ing Toward Pope.
M. CLEMENCEAU DENOUNCED
Roman Newspaper Says He Has Two
Methods, evidence and
Calumny."
Special Cablegram to The Star.

some Things SnOulO De stated ITOul the &C.
ciesiastical point of view, which is in the
main the point of view here in this great
Catholic center OF course the Italian gov
eminent. not yet reconciled to the Vatican.
though it has been limited that the recent
troubles may go long way toward bring
ing about an entente with the pope-of
course the government is keeping hands
off and preserving neutral attitude in the
discussions which have arisen. But the
bishops and the priests who throng the
holy city at this season of the year, the
local newspapers which take on form and
color, consciously unconsciousy from
clerical surroundings, the rank and file
what the Englishman would call the man
in the street'-all of these things show a
feeling of friendlness toward the pope and
unfriendliness toward the government, if
not the people of France.
THE government of NJ Clemenceau,'
writes Monsignor Lorenzelli, formerly
nunciO to Paris and now archbishop of
Lucca, has two Observation-Disclosures and
calumny. 1t is possible that the arch
bishop has shown heat and indignation I'M
usual in a high church dgnitary in con-
necton with his interviews and his CORE
spondence, but it must be remembered that
he has been bitterly attacked by one of the
papers which follows the policy of NJ.
Clemenceau. La Petite Republique. The
dTCIDlSHOp ueIlleS Indignantly the charge
that paper brings against him. namely,
that he received bride for the nomina-
ton of priest to a bishops see, and he
threatens to sue Petit Repubique for def
amation of character.
Acts of France Denounced.
Under the permanent title of Religious
Persecution in France the Obsservatore
Romano prints daily the LONG lists of
! church troubles in France, branding the
movements in connection with the DISPOSE
ton of the church property and the riots
which have followed in many instances as
Outrage!' and ''Legalized Robbery
The Osservatore Romano publishes in
detail the protests which the cardinal sec
rotary of state has sent to all the diplo-
! matte representatives of the holy see
throughout the world in order that they
may communicate to the governments to
which they accredited. This protest is
against the perquisition accompanied by or
der of the French government in the palace
of the pontitfcal representative at Paris the
carrying off of various documents, and the
violent expulsion of Monsignor Montagnini.
The protest which shows forth the enor
nifty of such Deeds of which there is no
example in our days among civilized ma
tons, according to the Osservatore Ro-
mano. which insists that even when dip
lomatic relations have ceased between
tons civilized governments have been ac
customed to respect the residences and
above all the archives of foreign repreSen-
tatives. The carrying away of the cata
logue of the acts of the nunciatures of Mon
Sgnor Clari and of Monsignor LorenZelli
and of a "cypher code whereby the
French government, by means of copies
preserved in the telegra phic offices, may
take cognizance of all of the Geographic
cyphered correspondence between the holy
see and the nuncio, Monsignor Lonerzelli
is branded as most serious Offense COM
mitted not only against the holy see. but
against all civilized which have
diplomatic interest in seeing to 1t that all
diplomatic secrets shall be respected.
The cardinal secretary of state even goes
so far as to declare in his protest that the
pretext advanced by the French govern
ment the reason of its act is destitute of
any foundation of fact whatsoever; for
Monsignor Montasnini has not made any
communication to the three cures of Paris
sued for violation of the law of 1905.
Church Rights Ignored.
These motives declared to be SO seri-
Gus and so evident that the holy see can not
in any way be accused of intractibleness or
of unjust hostility against the French gov
eminent in condemning the Associations
Cultelles. By them, in fact. were ignored
the essential rights of the church herself,
rights which were derived from her very
constitution, and which are those which be-
long to the ecclesiastical hierarchy, as es-
tablished by her Divine Founder. as the ba-
sis of the very organization of the church
For not only were rights conferred the
associations in question which belong to the
ecclesiastical authority in the exercise Of
worship, in the possession and in the ad-
| ministration of the ecclesiastical property,
| but also by the same associations they are
withdrawn from and rendered independent
of the ecclesiastical hierarchy and submit
| ted instead to the jurisdiction of the lay
authority. 1t is clear that the sovereign
| pontif could not without failing in the du-
| ties inherent In his very Office of head of
| the church, it is argued, approve the forma-
| ton of such associations
| The same may be said relative to the cir
cular of the minister. NJ. BRAND. In set
| ting aside any other consideration, it is
| argued that the holy see could not In any
| way admit the unjust and intolerable''
| condition created by such circular to the
| ministers of worship in the exercise of their
| lated. it sufflces to quote the following dis
| position: 1.-THE parish priest Qn the church,
| will be no more than an occupant without
/ judicial title. He will be incapable Of per-
| forming any act OF administration: still less
| will he be capable of any act of DISPOSE
| ton
| All this, it is claimed. demonstrates that
the holy see has done nothing more than
| fulfill its strict duty in giving the we'll
| known instructions to the French clergy.
| For If that government 1t Is urged, ami
mated by more equitable sentiments, should
provide for the church of France which
! should not at least offend its essential
| rights, the holy see even, while not admit
| ting the principle of separation. might toll
| crate such situation to avoid greater evils
| as 1t has done in other countries.
| This is practically the line followed by
the summary of the pontifical protest OF
course cardinals and clerical newspapers
| alike argue that nothing excuse the
| barbarity of the outrage inflicted on the
| archives of the papal nunciate In Paris
| That is said to surpass in recklessness and
| In improperly the extravagances of semi
| civilized peoples. OF course the newspaper
| are filled with lamentations to the effect
that France, which was once the model
for all that was dign.fied and graceful and
| honorable in manners and diplomacy and
| gave lessons to all other countries in these
| qualities, should be guilty of such an error
| Meetin O. of Veferan Associaf iop