The San Francisco call., 1907-01-12
PONTIFF DEPLORES
ACT Of FRANCE
Declares War on Church
Was Against Christianity
and All Spiritual Ideas
PROMISES A VICTORY

ROME. Jan. 1.-THE Osservatore
Romano, organ of the Vatican, pub
lished today the text of an encyclical
addressed by the Pope to Our vener-
able brothers, the cardinals, bishops
and clergy and the French people"
In this document the pontif 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 spir-
itual ideas, the Pope continued. The
French Catholics must be prepared for
all sorts of trials, but they were GER
tain of final victory. Contrary to
statements on the subject, the church
did not desire a religious war, involv-
ing violent prosecutions Being mis-
sionary 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 property, the encycli-
cal said the Pope had not abandoned
them The French Government had
imposed on French Catholics an or
ganization which the church was abso-
lutely unable to accept without imper-
fling her existence as divine institu-
ton The church could not prevent
the unjust spoliation in progress As
for the proposed cultural associations,
they were contrary to the ecclesiasti-
cal hierarchy given to the church by
the divine founder himself, and the
Pope condemned them in spite of the
material injuries involved at the hands
of the Government
REPROACH Is UNJUST
Besides, the law conferred on these
associations attributes regarding both
the exercise of worship and possession
and administration of church property
which appertained alone to ecclesiasti-
cal authority, the pontin declared.
Finally. the associations were not only
withdrawn from ecclesiastical jurisdic-
ton but were placed under civil au-
thority. Continuing, the Pope said:
We have been accused of prejudice and in
consistency. 1t has been said that we refused
to approve in France what we had already sp-
proved in Germany But this reproach is unjust
and unfounded. for while the German law Is
condemnable on many points and was ofnelaily
situations are very different The German law
explicitly recognizes the Catholic hierarchy,
which the French does not.
As TO the annual declaration required for
public worship, il did not o1er the legal guar
snty that the church had the right TO expect
Nevertheless, TO obyiate worse evils. the church
might have tolerated making declarations, but
laying down that the clergy shall be only occu-
pants OF the churches without any legal status
and without the right TO perform any admin
fstratiFe act in the exercise OF their ministry,
placed them in such a vague and humiliating po-
sition that the making Of declarations could not
1t remains to examine the law recently voted
by the Chambers From the point of view or
church property. the law is law Of spoliation
and conhscation and has consummated the PHI
sge of the church.
Although her divine founder was born in a
stable and died poor on the cross, and although
she knows poverty from the cradle, the prop
erty she was possessed OF nevertheless belonged
10 her and no one had the right 10 deprive her of
IL. This ownership indisputably possible from
every point OF view, had been officially sanction
ed by the state.
DECISION OF FRANCE
The statement that the Government disposed
of the abandoned property of the church is
adding derision TO spoliation.
From the point Of view Of the exercise of re-
ligion the law has organized anarchy. 1t
installs a regime Of uncertainty and arbitrari-
ness. There is uncertainty as TO whether the
churches which are always liable to disaffection,
shall shall not in the meanwhile be at the
disposal of the clergy and faithful. In each
parish the priest viii be in the power of the
OF conflicts in all parts Of the country. In addi-
tion, the clergy are under an obligation TO meet
subjected TO the strictest limitations.
The new law aggrayates the law separating
chuTch and state. We can only condemn IL
with precision and without ambiguity Certain
articles OF the law throw new light on the real
aim OF our enemies They wish to destroy the
church and de-Cbristianize France without at
tracing too closely the attention Of the people.
II their course was really popular, as they
pretend il is, they would pursue il openly and
take all the responsibility.
Instead Of against the rising tide Of popular
reprobation the Government attempts TO throw
the responsibility on the church. its victims, but
the object viii not succeed.
As for US. we have done our duty as any other
Roman pontin would have done. The high Of
fice with which heaven invested us. well as
our faith in Christ. determined our line of con-
duct and could not have acted otherwise
without betraying our conscience breaking the
oath we took when we mounted the throne OF
ST. Peter.
Therefore we await earnestly the verdict of
history which must be that, with our eyes
God. did not intend to humiliste the civil
power combat a form Of Government, but
only 10 safeguard the spiritual temple Of Christ.
CONDITION OF PEACE
All we demanded and demand for the church,
OF which France is the eldest daughter, is re-
spect for her hierarchy. the inYiolability Of her
property and liberty. II that had been granted
turbed: and the day our demand is needed the
longed-for peace win be restored
Assured in advance of your magnanimous gen
erosity. did not hesitate to tell you that the
hour of sacrifice had struck and TO recall to the
world IN the of the master of all things
that man here below must have goal above
the perishable things Of earth and that God
bonored. served and loved is the fount OF all
supreme Joy.
The encyclical concludes as follows:
daughter Of our Father. mother OF the word,
spouse of the Holy Ghost, viii obtain for you
from the most holy and adorable trinity better
days, from the bottom of our heart we give