New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-05
ia Croix," of Paris, Says
French Catholics Are
Disappointed.
NOT SATISFIED WITH
PERFECT NEUTRALITY
Do Not Ask POntiff to Take
Sides, but Desire Protest II
Right Is Violated.
By NINE. JEAN ALCIDE PICARD.

Paris. Feb. g. Commenting with
very moderate words or the declara-
ton Of Cardinal Annette concerning
Pope Benedicts prayer for peace and
the governments permission to publish
it. the Clerical paper la Croix" ends
with these words:
"The painful incident j. closed yes
closed to the satisfaction Of all, but
among the Roman Catholics OF France
remains bitter disappointment about
the Pope's attitude in the present Euro
pean conflict, an attitude which he calls
that of absolute neutrality. The Vatl-
can official newspapers make laudabie
efforts TO convince all nations OF the
perfection Of that neutrality. See they
write. with what conscience We act.
We give as a proof that our attitude
realizes the ideal of perfect neutrality
the fact that it provokes criticisms
from ell the belligerents. Our focks
in Austria and Bavaria do not seem
any more satisfied than those in Eng
land, Belgium and France
Francis Joseph's Protest.
"The event Of yesterday was that
Francis Joseph's Ambassador expressed
70 His Holiness the dissatisfaction OF
the Emperor. What more IL necessary
10 establish that Benedict XIV holds IN
his paternal hand an equal balance be-
tween all his children? The idea is
that his character as the common
father Of all the faithful should I'M
pose on His Holiness a total Austen
ton from participating in their secular
desires. that it should obllge him to
share all his feelings in intercourse
with the belligerents, and that nnaliy
il should induce him TO urge a peace
that should satisfy everybody.
This very idea is the cause OF
great disagreement between the Pope
and mis- most faithful and submissive
subjects. II is not asked from him 70
take sides in a struggle or favor the
material advantage Of anybody, but as
a representative Of divine right and
Justice il is felt that to him belongs
the duty 70 protest when this right -
violated. Il is not understood how he
can see one part of his people treated
by another part with the most revolt
ing Injustice and cruelty women vlo-
lated, children slaughtered, his priests
killed. his churches in France and Bel
GUM destroyed-an remain impas'
sive. II is not for him TO blame the
authors of such infamies. Not even
the shameful treatment Of Cardinal
MERCER. Primate of Belgium, could sue
coed in drawing him out OF his circum-
spect attitude.
Saws Catholicism Will Suffer.
"A we'll known Catholic writes TO-
dav in lie Matin' that there were Popes
once who. such as magnanimous Greg.
orv VII, had taken for their motto, |
have loved Justice and hated inlqulty',
They would not now hesitate 20 find
the right and act. In consequence what
will happen if the equivocal polcy
pursued in the Vatican persists? Sure
t. Catholicism will suffer by 1t. we.
foresee an hypothesis the nature OF
which may give the Holy See matter
for reflection. Should Italy take her
Mace on the side of the Allies can we
believe that the Vatican will perseveree
in it's absolute neutrality? IL would
surely be impossible for the Pope TO
resist a really national Italian move
ment and then he would have to change
He would inhict on himself a neces-
sarv but humiliating contradiction
Would il not be better for the rope 10
.,sar. hin, self now ~