The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-29

articles on the situation of the Church
in France after fifteen years of separa
ton from the State, writes a CORE
spondent of the N C. w. c..
These articles were written after an
investigation made in seventy-six did,
ceses. The results of the investigation
were accepted with few reservations
but are admitted to be correct as a
whole.
The following are some of the OBJ |
servations made by M. d'Avenel.
The Clergy.
The separation of the Church and
State was viewed with apprehension
by religious minds. 1t was violence
The "anticlericals" hoped that the
priests would enjoy less authority
when they no longer received pay from
the State.
This was not the result. The
church recovered it's liberty ana nn,
erty was salutary. The priests faced
poverty and their moral influence in
creased
Shortly after the separation the
Catholics won first victory. Almost
unanimously they followed the instruc-
tions from Rome which rejected the
cultual organization provided for by
the law of separation. The State con-
fiscated church property but was
obliged to leave the churches them
selves at the disposal of the faithful,
and the Catholics organized the re-
| ligious services freely according to the
desires of the religious authorities.
The value of the property confiscat-
ed amounted to about 600,000,000
francs. The dioceses were deprived of
| seminaries, and the material situa-
ton of the priests appeared very I'M
certain. During several years the
number of vocations diminished and
the recruiting of the clergy was insult
ficient.
Today both the small and large
seminaries have been re-established
in practically all dioceses, and the
number of vocations is large enough
to promise a sufficient number Of
priests. Certain dioceses have more
than enough. A large number of 9TH
ers can provide a pastor for parishes
which have at least $50 inhabitants.
| The resources of the clergy are linn
tied everywhere to the strict minimum
essential for living expenses. This
poverty proves the disinterestedness
of their vocation and increases their
dignity Their intercourse during the
| ind i<I, fpn nc.
to the Faith further increased the con-
sideration felt for them.
The Faithful.
After examining the situation of the
clergy, M. d'Avenel takes up that of
the faithful:
First there are the Christians who
lpractice their religion; then there are
the masses who remain attached to
religious traditions, in the matter OF
baptism, marriage and funerals, but
who neglect, more or less, their re-
lligious duties.
The number of French citizens who
are thoroughly hostile or who profess
other faiths form minority. In one
of the less devout dioceses, for in
stance, the bishop called referendum
at the time of the separation. Out of a
population of 100000, about 100000 de-
clared their desire to keep their
churches and their priests. Only TO-
900 answered in negative or doubtful
manner. 1t is a notorious fact that in
a large number of French departments
the outcome of political elections does
not correspond to the religious atti-
tude of the people. Ex-Minister Malvy,
who made such violent attacks on the
congregations, was elected from the
diocese of CahOrs where IS per cent
of the men go to Mass and at least two
thirds make their Easter duty. Jules
Ferry, author of the laws on the neu-
trality of schools, was elected from
! the diocese of Saint-Die Vosges)
where the majority of the electors go
to Mass and make their Easter duty.
In other dioceses, however, the re-
ligious attitude is weaker. An eX-
animation of statistics for attendance
at Mass and Communion shows that
religious practices are more wide
! spread in the country than in the
cities. But the present movement or
French Catholicism shows trend IN
| the opposite direction. The decline
of religious practices in France Is
: fact of long standing and dates back
) further than 1870. According to some
, authorities it goes back to the Pc
riod of Jansenism. At the present
time, however, there is an awaken
, ling. a Christian revival
This revival is especially evident IN
the cities, where it is manifested by
, different works, by societies for young
people, by increased attendance OF
: linen at Mass. 1t is noticeable in To-
: calities known for their lack of fer
vor. At the cathedral of Sens, for
instance, there are now $4,000 Com
munions year instead of $4,000 ten
years ago. At Auxerre, there are 49,,
loco more Communions than formerly.
Revival of Piety in Cities.
although no favor rewards, in our
R days, the profession of Catholicity.'
says M. d'Avenel, mot only do we
find hundreds of thousands of French.
men to devote themselves as lay apos
ties, to propaganda by word and ex
! ample. but there are millions to bear
p witness. by formal and repeated acts
Q of their attachment to their religion
n And although the fact is OF a nature