The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-01-05
The Present Fight in France is Not One
Between Denominations, But a
Fight Against Religion.
The Law Which the French Government IS
Now Enforcing Would be Declared
Void in This Country.

Tho following analysis Of the law
tprovidtug for the separation Of Church
and State in France has been made by
Edgar II. Cans, a prominent member
Of the Baltimore bar and Catholic
--at tho request Of tho "Sun" Of that
city, says tho Catholic Standard and
Times.
The general impression on this side
IT tho water seems to be that the
separation Of Church and State i'll
France is like the separation we have
In the United States. and many per-
sous, who have not thoroughly studied
the question. wonder why Catholics
are opposed to the bill and have been
Instructed by the Pope not to organ>
tize religious associations under its
:provisions. '-. ..'..
4, The truth Is that there is no possible
similarity in tho condition Of things
.ls,s- tAs two countries. Separation In the
sliifTfiitsd States has the approval OF
catholics; ID France it has the con-
ftdemnation Of all. Why this difference:
In the United States we have writ
ten Constitutions which are superior
to all legislation. Every legislative
act must be in accordance with the
Constitution. II It is not, tits utterly
void and Of no effect and will be so
declared by the courts at the instance
.of every one, whose constitutional
rights are invaded.
In France, as in England. there is
no constitution III this sense. The ac-
ion Of Parliament is supreme, and
no court can set it aside as unconsti-
tutional.
Our Constitutions guarantee funda-
mental right and among these the su-
preme right of liberty CT conscience
Therefore, in this country, in the Ian
guage Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States. "the full and free right
to entertain any religious belief, to
practice any religious principle and to
teach any religious doctrine which does
not violate the laws of morality and
property and which does not infringe
personal rights. is conceded to ALL"
This is the foundation Of separation
Of Church and State in the United
States. All religious bodies are equal
before the law as matter of constitu-
tional right. To those religious bodies
alone belong the exclusive jurisdiction
in matters of church government,
church organization, religious tenets,
the laws Of religious adjudications and
all other matters pertaining solely to
the Church as such. There is no power
in the Government Of the United States
or Of any State, under our Constitu-
tions, to interfere with any of these
things, and If Congress or the Legis-
'lature Of any State should undertake
by law to force on any religious body
any special kind Of worship or internal
organization or religious government,
and especially If it should undertake
to interfere with any cf it's rights OF
property on religious grounds, such
action Of Congress or Of the Legisla-
ture would be decided by the courts to
be utterly void.
Our remedy against any legislative
infringement Of liberty Of conscience
lies in an application to the courts Of
Justice. Therefore, Americans are SO
aw abiding. Tyrannical laws in vio-
alton Of Fundamental rights are impos-
,ible..
Not so in France. If law is passed
France by the two Chambers and
eceives the approval Of the President,
hat law Is supreme. If rights Of con-
cierce are violated there is no redress
n the courts. for the courts are also
,olnd by the law. If q special kind Of
Forship or certain kind Of internal
Iiurch organization is provided by the
aw, or if property is confscated on
elisious grounds or the right of as
.mbIy for religious purposes denied,
-