The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-12
Ruler of Catholic Church Ex-
presses His Feelings to
Faithful in France.
ne DOES NOT WANT WAR
NOT ABANDONED EcCLESIAs-
TIcAL PROPERTIES, BUT COULD
NOT PREVENT SPOILATION.
Publishers Press.1

Nome, Jan. 1.-The Observatory
Romano published the text of an en-
cyclical addressed by the pope to
French Catholics. In this document
the pontiff said his chief object in ad-
dressing the faithful in France is to
comfort them in their sufferings,
ever, great consolation in the fact that
the Catholics of France are united.
The French governments decline of
war was not only against the Chris
tian faith, but against all spiritual
ideas. The French Catholics must be
prepared for all sorts of trials, but
they are certain of final victory. This
means the maintenance of their union
with the holy see, which is Of the
greatest importance, as shown by the
efforts of the enemies of the church
to dissolve this union. Contrary TO
statements made on the subject, the
church does not desire a religious
war, involving violent prosecutions
Being messenger Of peace and carry
ing out her mission of loyalty, the
church did not willingly expose her
self to war and prosecutions, as she
does not desire to see her children
suffering.
Regarding the ecclesiastical prop
critics, the encyclical said the pope
has not Abandoned them. The French
government imposed on the Catholics
of France an organization which the
al tn o.
cept without imperilling her existence
as a divine institution. The church
could not prevent the unjust spoliation
in progrcss for, as the proposed cul-
tural assoc cations were opposed to
the hierarchy established by Christ,
the pope condemned them, in spite OF
the consequent material injuries in
volved at the hands of the govern
ment The statement that the latter
disposed Of the abandoned" proper
ties of the church was adding derision
to spoliation. 1t is false to state that
the pontif condemned in France what
he approved in Germany, as the Ger
man cultural associations are merely
tolerated, although they recognized
the hierarchy. which is not done I'M
der the law of France. The holy see
might have tolerated an annual dec
laration for the exercise of public
worship. although 1t did not offer
legal guarantee that the exercise OF
public worship would be permitted,
were it not for the impossible position
in which NJ Briend's circular placed
the parish priests.
Continuing, the encyclical said the
new bill amending church and separa-
ton law of 1905 Is simply, so far as
ecclesiastical property is concerned, a
law of confiscation. and in regard to
the exercise of public worship it is an
anarchical measure introducing arbi-
trariness and uncertainty everywhere.
and aggravating the former law
Therefore, the pope condemned it.
Adversaries of church tried to make
the holy see responsible for the pres
emit situation, because they knew that
their work was not in accord with the
desires of the country.
In conclusion. the pope appealed to
the Judgment of history which, he
said, will recognize that the papacy in
acting as il has, did so because 1t did
not wish 70 humiliate any trivial Off
cials or oppose any form of govern
ment, but defended with all its
strength the work of the divine
founder of the church demanding re
spect for the hierarchy and the invi-
olability of its property and liberty"
The papacy wished to remind the
world that man must concern him.
self here below with higher ideals
than the occurrence of everyday life,
and that the supreme. fnviolable joy
Of the human soul on earth is to ac-
complish its spiritual duty at all costs
and thus. in spite of all, honor, serve
and love God.