Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-12

Rome. Jan. 1.-The OSserVatOre To-
| mano. official organ OF the Vatican. to-
. day published the text of 4 most i'm
portant encyclical address by the
Pone to the French Catholics. In this
document, which was addressed to
"Our venerable brothers, the cardinals.
bishops and clergy and the Christian
People" the Pontilf said that his chief
object in addrc ssing the faithful in
France was - comfort them in their
SufferiEgS. which he felt deeply. There
was, however. great consolation i'll the
tact that the Catholics of France We're
| united. The French governments dec
1aration of war was not only against
the Christian faith. but against all
spiritual ideas. The French Catholics
must be prepared for all sorts Of trials,
but they were certain Of victory. This
| meant the maintenance Of their union
with the Holy See. which was Of the
greatest Importance, as shown by the
efforts Of the enemies Of the church
to dissolve this union. Contrary to the
statements made on the subject the
church did not desire a religious war.
involving violent prosecutions. Being Il
messenger Of peace ana carrying out
.
'. illingly expose herself to war and
prosecutions. as she did not desire to
see her children suffering.
Regarding the ecclesiastical proper
ties. the cncyclical said the Pope had
| not abandoned them. The French gov
| ernIncnt had imposed on the Catholics
| of France an objection which the
| church was absolutely unable to accept
| without impcrilinS her existence as Il
| Divine Institution. The church could
not prevent the unjust spoliation in
progress AS for the proposed cultural
| associations, they We're contrary to the
| ecclesiastical hcirachcy given to the
| church by tho Divine founder himself.
| The Pope condemned them in spite Of
| the material injuries involved at The
| hands Of the government.
| "l5tSideS the law conferred on these
associations attributes deciding both
the exercise Of worship and prosecu-
ton and administration OF church
properties which appertain alone to
ecclesiastical property
AS to the annual declaration re-
quir2d for public worship it did not
| offer the legal guarantee that the
| church mad the right to expect. Never
| The less. to obviate worse evils the
| church might tolerate making declar-
| ations. but laying down that the clergy
! shall be only occupants of the churches
! without airy legal statutes and without
| the right 70 prcform any adminiStra-
| tive net in the exercise Of their min
! istry. placed thcrl in such Il vague and
! Illuminating position that the making Of
| declarations could not b. expected.
at remains To examine the law
! recently voted by the chambers. From
| the point Of view Of church property
| the law is law of spoliation and con-
| liScation and has conSummatel the
! pillagc Of the church. Although her
| Divine founder was born poor in a sta
BILE and died poor on the cross. and al
| though she knows poverty from the
| cradle. the property she was possessed
| of none the less belonged to her and
| no enc had the right TO deprive her
of il. This ownership. indisputably
hers from every point of view. had been
| officially sanctioned by the state.
From the point of view of the eX-