The Detroit times., 1909-07-09
FRANCE ON VERGE
BIC CHURCH WAR
Cardinal Andrew Tells His People
It's Their Duty to Disobey Oh
noxious Laws-Defes Court.

PARIS, July 9.-Trouble. trouble
toil and bubble, This line OF the
bard OF Avon might we'll be the mot
10 OF France instead OF that which
now takes the place OF the milled
edges on coins: "Liberte, EgaIite,
Fraternite."
Beset on all sides by a disconnected
soldiery, a jeering citizenry, AN -.
told-you-so' journalism, an anarchy in
clined working class, bitterly split
up legislature, not to mention never.
ending list OF strikes, the government
is now on the ragged edge OF another
religious controversy as hot and
yengeful as was that OF 1904. That
row, IL will be remembered. ended la
the separation OF church and state
and hte abrogation OF the Napoleon
Pope concordat OF 1901.
The prosecution of Cardinal Andrl-
en- of Bordeaux will tell he tale. Ii
the government backs down. little
harm will be done save that 1t adds
another cause for being blamed for
wishy-washiness. But Il may save II
self, a more serious affair.
Declares Laws Are Bad.
Some time ago Cardinal Andrieu
in r sermon to his new congregation
in the cathedral at Bordeaux declared
that the laws of France were bad, and
that when one found them clashing
with the interests Of church and fam
| lily. one owed himself the duty TO dis
obey them.
For this speech he was brought be-
fore the Judge of instruction at Bor-
deaux for an explanation. He gave
It. il was short adm TO the point Said
he:
Il recognize no man-made justice IN
the control OF the affairs OF my do
Cese recognize no human censor;
what | say concerns my conscience,
the pope and God
Il do not recognize the right OF the
French government to prosecute me
because OF an alleged disobeyance or
an article called the law OF separation.
This law does not exist so far as Cath-
olics are concerned. since their SUI
preme chief has condemned 1t many
times as hostile to. the authority ana
| liberty OF the church.
Does Not Fear Arrest.
II do not fear your arrests nor your
Judgments which are, at most epheni-
eral There is always a rehearing be-
fore Him whose decisions are Justice
itself and always without appeal.
Il beg OF YOU, In consequence. TO
rcmemb Der that ii the prosecution con-
tinues against me. | shall allow you To
take judgment by default. For | re-
gard as incompetent the tribune which
shall Judge me- deriving its POWER as
| e. does from law manifestly contrary
to the rights of the church and OF the
Christian conscience.
The hearing over. the cardinal
walked from the court room, head
erect, TO hear loud cries Of Long
| live the cardinal" The next step will
he TO summon the cardinal before the
court OF correction, but as indicated
By his speech before the judge of in
stiuction. he will not be present TO de-
! fend himself.
Great Contrary Movement
What con the government do
Plainly the cardinal has told 1t TO go
ahead and do what II would; that he
didn't recognize il as having the right
Should the verdict OF the court be
/ against him, Catholics will consider IL
as against the church, and the second
great controversy will be- on. AS
said In the beginning, il the govern
ment drops the affair. another contin-
gent will laugh the laugh OF derision.
The matter has created the biggest
! kind OF stir at the vatican. AS a
matter of fact. the Catholic press OF
the whole of Europe is talking the
case over.
The pope himself considers the &C.
tion Of the French government asj Il
new proof OF an indisposition toward
the church, and is greatly displeased
lie sees in it en- obstacle to the re-
nCval Of any friendly relations which
seemed slowly very slowly. getting
under way. IL is a reply. the pope has
said. To the French bishops who still
/ believe possible a modus vivendi be.
tween the French government and
Rome. II is known also that the pope
. has addressed aletter Of congratula-