The Irish standard., 1907-02-16
FRENCH CATHOLICISM.

FRENCH CATHOLICISM.
The vitality Of French Catholicism
is the subject Of an editorial in last
Sundays New York Sun. The Sun"
discusses an aspect of tho situation
that we have not seen touched upon
in the public print. The world is fa-
miliar with tho intense national feel
inG that every Frenchman carries with
him. We know how much the French
man thinks Of the state. 1t is reason
able to suppose that the trainers of
tho so-called Separation Law depend
ed upon this national feeling to help
IN establishing q national Catholic
church in France, which should be i'll
dependent of the Papacy. The law
itself WAS framed SO that this result
could be best brought about. 1t pro-
vided for an organization to control
the churches, in which bishops and
priests should have no part. A way
was thus left open for bishops and
priests to revolt against the authority
of the Pope and to attach themselves
to Il national church and secure thu
benefit Of the stipends provided for
The old Gallican feeling, which showed
itself at the time Of the French revo1u-
ton, was expected to make trouble fol
the Vatican. But what has been the
result: Not IL single bishop or priest
has refused to obey the Pope. 1t was
Revolution. Many bishops and priests
took the oath Of allegiance and from
1891 to 1901 religion in France was
in a cha condition. The authority
OF the Church prevailed, but no such
solidarity was displayed at that time
as has been displayed in the present
struggle. The Sun" says:
NJ. BRAND is showing more foresight
and 4. more vivid remembrance OF the
events Of Il century ago than is evinced
by most of his colleagues in the Gle
lnenceau Cabinet. He realizes-what
they are blind to-the indestructible
vitality of the Catholic Church.
There can be but little doubt that the
trainers Of the Separation act took for
granted that the old spirit Of Gallican
Catholics. and that if Pope Plus X. re-
fused to accept the provisions Of the
new law large portion OF the Bishops
and Priests, dcsirous of keeping con-
troll of Church property and Of retain
ing, for a while at least, the stipends
paid by the government. would found
Il national Catholic Church, independ-
ent of the Papacy.
In the early period Of the first French
Revolution. Church property was con-
fiscated; but the State took over the
duty OF maintaining divine service and
of providing for the support Of the
clergy. no attach the clergy to the
Revolution q so-called Civil Consti-
tution' was drawn up in November,
1890. and stipends We're to be payable
only to those bishops and priests who
would take the oath to obey it. Within
"a few months thereafter a large num-
her of bishops and between thirty and
forty thousand priests-the number
has been put as high as sixty thousand
took the oath prescribed, though
many other priests and by far the
greater part Of the bishops refused
to do so. In August, 1192, the legis-
lative assembly enacted u new law or
derins all non-juring priests to leave
the kingdom within fourteen days, but
many Of the clergy who would not
take the oath 10 the Civil Constitu-
tion chose rather to live in hiding in
France than to enisrate. Many laymen
who considered the churches dssecrat-
ed by the services of those priests who
had taken the oath held clandestine
meetings. and all over France nom
jurors secretly baptized children and
heard confessions.
The National Convention, which sue
ceeded the Legislative Assembly. num-
bersd among its members Grsgoire,