Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-04
France AnnuIs Laws
Forbidding Catholics
ToConduct Schools
Anti-Church Measures
OF 1904 Repealed;
Those Affected Rejoice
BY PAUL GHALI,


Chicago Daily News FOREIGN Correspondent.
VICHY, Sept. 4 By Radio. -
France today ended the 36-year-o old
rift between church and state when
the Vichy government formally re-
pealed the law of 1904, thus abro-
eating q series of measures then
designed to restrict the influence
of the Catholic Church in the field
of education.
Passed at the height of a wave
of anti-clericalism which swept
through France 10 years before the
World War, the first of the two
measures specifically forbade 1.-The
right Of association Of monastic
orders in France, and the second
norminally barred religious orders
from conducting schools.
The DEGREES issued this morning
thus restore the spirit of the con-
cordat signed between Napoleon
Bonaparte and Pope Plus VII, per-
hitting Jesuits to teach In Catholic
educational institutions and allow
ing converts to reopen ofncially.
Interference" Had Been CHARGED.
Certain French political parties
have professed a hatred" for Ca
tholicism for political reasons since
the turn of the century. French
radicals in the late COS openly and
bitterly denounced the church for
what they termed its interference"
in the internal politics of the coun-
try. These accusations, furthered
in violent press campaign, were
climaxed in 1904 by anti-clerical de-
crees, conf1scation of some church
property and the 0fflcial closing
down of converts and monasteries
throughout the country.
During the last war, however.
French Catholic priests, many of
whom fought In the French armies,
asked the government to repeal the
law Of 1904 as a reward for their
valor in action, but sectarian feelings
ran too high and the issue was too
explosive politically.
1t was emphasized in French Cath
Ole circles that Bismarck's Reich
allowed Assace to enjoy the benefits
Of the century-old concordat and
that this privilege was not abro-
gated, even after the return of AL
SAGE to France in November, 1918.
Thus French Catholics argued that
an anomalous position was created:
Alsace permitted religious orders to
conduct schools, but France proper
denied them this privilege.
Laws Eased After 1918.
After 1918 succeeding French gov
ernments applied the laws with
great leniency and priests and NUNS
were permitted to teach as mon
although the laws were
never ofhcially abolished. The posi-
ton Of Catholic clerics In French
education was, however, a precarious
one and they could still be ousted
If strict application were enforced.
After the start of World War II,
O8uOu fOuIuAu, TTcIlCu uCpuCy,
secured the promise of former Pre-
mier Edouard Daladier to put an
end to the anti-clerical measures,
but the latter did not fulfill his
pledge.
Today's DEGREES, repeating the
anti-church measures, caused re-
joicing among Catholics in France,
who claim that 1t can only REIN
force the support of the Vichy gov
eminent by the predominantly
Catholic French people.
Onicially, the government says
abolition of the law of 1904 is de-
signed to give French priests the
same status rs Alsatian priests who
are unable to return to Alsace.
1t is generally believed that the
Catholic leanings of the French
government, in contrast to the
Reichs nti-Catholicism, may not be
appreciated on the other side Of the
border.
(copyrisht, 1910. Chicago Daily News, Inc.)