Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-03

realty tax and the door and window tax
but edifces serving as residences for min
listers of religion, seminarists and the fac
lions belonging to the state, the depart
ments or the communes and property
belonging to the associations and unions
are subject to the same imposts as those
Of private individuals. The law then adds:
The associations and unions are not in
any case subject to the special corporation
tax nor to those imposed on clubs .
nor to the income tax of per cent"
Religious teaching may be given to chill
dren between the ages of and Is years
registered in the public schools, but only
outside of school hours.
A fine of from 16 to 300 francs or i'm
prisonment for six days to two months.
is imposed upon those who by assaults,
violence or threats against an Individual,
either in causing him the fear of the loss Of
his employment or of exposing himself to
injury in his person, his family or his for
tune, shall have determined such person
to exercise or to abstain from exercising
rights OF religious worship to join or cease
to be a member OF any association for re-
ligious worship, TO contribute or refrain
to contribute for the maintenance of a
religion" The same penalties are pro-
vided for any one who delays or interrupts
religious worship by disorderly conduct
A minister who defames or insults a
public official from the pulpit or by pla-
cards hung on the walls OF the church is
liable to a fine OF from 500 to 1900 francs
or to imprisonment of from one month to
one year. The fact of the defamation, but
only when 1t relates to public functions
may be established before the correctional
tribunal.
Article xxxv reads eff a speech, dis
course or a writing posted up or distrib-
uted publicly in places where religious
services are held shall contain a direct
provocation TO resist the execution Of the
laws or the lawful acts Of public authority,
or II it shall tend to raise I'D or arm a
part of the people against the others. the
minister OF religion who shall be found
guilty shall be punished by an imprison-
ment of from three months to two years.
without prejudice to the penalties incurred
for completely In case the provocation
shall have been followed by sedition, re-
volt or civil war"
During the eight years beginning with
the PRONUNCIATION of the law ministers OF
religion are ineligible to membership in
the municipal council of the communes
where they exercise their religious func-
lions.
BY the terms OF the present separation
law all enactments relative to the public
organization Of religions previously recog
nized by the state. as we'll as enactments
contrary to the present law. are abrogated
a notable instance being the concorda
itself. This is described as 1.-The law Of
the eighteenth germinal, year 10, provid
ing that the convention ratified the twenty
sixth messidor, year 8, between the pops
and the French government. all the or
ganic articles OF the said convention anC
of the Protestant denomination should b
executed as laws of the republic"
The French government is firm In III
resolve to enforce the law and II has th'
warm support OF the Chambers in its de
termination. After the law was passed
but before 1t went into operation. an cleo
ton was held and an increased majority OF
deputies returned who are in favor OF the
act.
Unquestionably a majority of the voters
in France favor the separation act as the
only practical solution of the vexed ques-
tions that have arisen between church and
state, but II is not believed that the Catho-
lies. who are loyal 20 the pope. will ever
submit TO the restrictions. AS yet nc
practical compromise has been suggested
by which the Catholics could continue "a
give allegiance to the Holy Father ana still
obey the provisions Of the law.
In his encyclical OF last August the pope
declined to allow the French bishops to
comply with the terms OF the act. lie
said that he had examined the law with TIE
greatest care TO see II It allowed the ex-
ercise OF religion without jeopardlzing the
sacred principles g the church He d.