The sun., 1914-08-20
Church SIN Had Advantages.

Church StilI Had Advantages.
Despite the violence OF some of the
protests that were heard throughout
the Christian world. and although the
law had been voted by enemies of the
Church. II had an lncontestable char
acter of moderation and liberalism. II
pronounced the rupture, but contained
a number of conciliatory dispositions.
Great advantages were offered To the
Church and there is possibility that
1t might have been accepted with only
"A slight protest had the French Govern
ment observed all the formalties care
fully In its denunciatiun of the contract
created by the Concordat. But the
Government of France failed even to
take the trouble of informing the per
son who had signed the contract with
France-the Pope. This absence Of
form has been considered by many as
an absolute justification for the strong
protest of Pope Plus against the very
essence of the law.
The Pope- encycliCal on the separa-
tion law, published in August, 1906, was
called by many a mistake Both parties
were I'm the wrong, the action of France
was considered brutal and Pius's ency-
clical will remain the greatest document
of his pontificate and called by man n
monument Of divine and human wis
dom.
Plus, in his reply. said that he had
been patient in dealing with the mat
ter out Of love for the French nation.
He had examined the ubiquitous law
with the greatest c.tre. he said. in order
TO see If II allowed the exercise or re-
igion without jeopardizing the sacred
rights and in the hope to find some form
Of organization which might avert the
danger. lie then added:
But as this hope fails us and the law
remains as II Is we declare 1t is not
permissible to try these other kinds of
| associations 80 long as they do not es-
tablish in the most legal and most posi-
tive way that the divine constitution
of the Church, the immutable rights OF
| the Roman Pontiff and the Bishops and
! their authority over the temporal af-
| fairs of the Church, particularly the
sacred edifices. will be irrevocably pro-
| tected by such associations. We can
not wish otherwise without betraying
our sacred charge and producing the
ruin Of the Church in France"
! The Pope urged the Bishops to adopt
all means within the law to orsanize
! their forces and added:
1T IL not difficult 10 foresee the re-
examinations which the enemies of the
/ Church will make against our present
decree. They will seek to persuade the
people that we do not seek the saliva
ton of the Church, but that the form
of the republic of France is odous to
us. We denounce with indignation such
! insinuatlons as false.
THE makers of this law have not
sought separation but oppression. While
affirming their desire for peace they
have made atrocious war against relig-
ion. They hurl brand of the most vio-
lent discord. thus arraying one clti-
zen against another, to the great detsi-
ment of public welfare.
I'VE have supported patiently injus-
tice after injustice through love of the
French nation and are finally asked &c
overstep the last limits of our apostolic
duty. and we declare our inability tc
overstep them. Let the responsibility
rest with those whose hatred has gone
to such extremes.
I'm the hour of hard trial for France
II all unite in defending the suprem,
interests OF the country the salvation
Of the Church IL far from desperate
, on the contrary, it is to he hoped tha
her dignity will be raised TO its former
prosperous height"
Portugal Follows France.
But France was not the only daugh
ter Of the Catholic Church to revol
against the Vatican. Immediately afte
the establishment OF the new republic II
Portugal that country made known Il
> intention of following the example Sc
: by France and on April 20, 1911, the de
Z cree separating the Church from tn
state was issued.
4 The decree brought forth a storm o
, protest and Pope Plus issued an ency
clical In which he condemned the sepa
r ration law in energetic terms. The Pom
tiff deplored the anti-clerical policy O