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Show LECTURE FOR K, OF C, AT OGDEN j The Church and State in France Doctor j Roche Explains Many Difficult Questions Answers Objections Traces the Iniquitous In-iquitous Laws Back to the Revolution-Evil Revolution-Evil Influence of Voltaire, Holbach, Di- I derot and Rosseau The Concordat, Its j Meaning and Extent Saved the Empire Shamelessly Broken Cultural Associa- tions Their Object to Discard All Re- '-ligious '-ligious Control of Religious Worship-Comments Worship-Comments of Non-Catholic Writers, j ' ; Dr. Francis E. Roche, author of one of the mosff remarkable and scholarly poems. "The Exodus, An Epic on Liberty." recently issued from the press lectured last week before the members of the Knights of Columbus in Ogden. His subject was "The Church and State in France." He goes back to the revolution of 1789, and showed that the corrupt cor-rupt literature which flooded France subsequent tr that period was one of the main causes of inler-mining inler-mining the religious faith of the French nation. The different schools of "no religion" as repre-' sented by Voltaire. Holback and Diderot, and Rousseau Rous-seau adopted the French proverb. "Xothing is sh-' cred to a sapper." These writers used all their wit. humor and false phelosophy in uprooting Christian belief and substituting the worship of humanity for the worshij) of God. The doctor, who has watchel the trend of current events, quoted freely from the anti-Christian press of today, showing that the same spirit, which animated Voltair's "Dictionary of Philosophy." Holbach and Diderot's "System of Xature," and Rousseau's "Social Contract" domin- ated the irreligious and sac-religious war now waged -rv in France. The unholy war in the past as well at present in the name of "Liberty, Fraternity anl. . Equality" meant confiscation of church' 'trV"---- 4. "The unbelieving, atheistical Frenchman." said the 1 ! speaker, tasted liberty, swallowed it. and not being t able to digest it by reason of unfitness of mind and V 5 soul and heart for its reception, it disagreed with him. or rather he disagreed with it. and the discord brought forth the Marats. the Dantcns and the Ro- I bespierres of the reign of terror until the iron hed - ofXapoleon stamped out the epidemic and at the I same time the liberty they knew not how to enter- I tain. Their great countryman. Hugo, satirically - ( described his fellow-citizen as "monkeys today, ti- I gers tomorrow." Tracing the trials of the church j down to the time of Xapoleon, who became master- I of France, the doctor took up the question, of the Concordat between the Emperor and the Pope. He j said: "By this concordat the church had to give I up all claim to the $300,000,(MM confiscated, and re- . f ceived from the state in lieu thereof 1 per cent in- Si terest on the sum for the support of the bishops. ; priests and church in France. Xapoleon and his, j , successors in pwer over France were allowed to- j nominate the bishops for the Pope to confirm and; f invest, and the church was to give her moral support sup-port to the reconstruction of French society and, government. France, by Xapoleon. agreed to giva perfect liberty to the Catholic church and religion, a respectable support to the ministers of all religions re-ligions (the 1 per cent above alluded to." which give a priest about $40 a year, a right to public worship f-and f-and canonical investiture of the bishops, and the f.' placing-of all churches at the disposal of the bish- ' f ' ops. This is or rather was the celebrated concordat ! of Xapoleon with the addition of some 'organic ar- tides' of a vexatious character which the despot afterward tacked on without the consent of the i Pope. Under this concordat, the church in France lived through empire, kingdom, republic, empire and republic again until December. 1905. when the .present law of separation was passed by the French chambers. As this concordat was a solemn agreement, agree-ment, equivalent to a treaty, between the church and Xapoleon. it could not be dissolved, according , ' to the law of nations, without the consent of both ' I parties, but France has not even denounced it. much less obtained the church's consent to its abrogation. We are now historically and logically arrived at th ' 1 consideration of this so-called separation law which 1 ought in truth be termed the 'strangulation' law. J Some of us may remember when the second French i empire fell in 1870. and some also may remember f the excuses of the commune in Paris succeeding the f total defeat of the French army at Sedan and the occupation of Paris by the Germans, when the arch- I bishop of Paris was murdered and attempts made to I desecrate and burn the churches and great public j buildings, and some of us may remember that the more conservative classes of France put down this I socialist insurrection and recaptured Paris. Sue- feeding these events, a fair attempt was made under Thiers-. MacMahan. Greary and others to conduct a I decent republic' but there still lived in France the principles of the commune and there still existed the infidel societies, the heathen literature, and a licentious pres. and these latter elements gradually grew bolder' and stronger until they commanded much power in the Chamber of Deputies and im- I mediately went at their old work the destruction I of Christianity. From 1881 to 190." there was a ' continuous battle at' the polls and in the chamber I between these iconoclasts and the ooriservativo statesman, and the Religieuse and teaching orders ' ' of the church were driven out by legislation, and a state system of schools adopted much under the I ? ' control of atheists and free thinkers, hut still with I a semblance of decency toward Christianity. It js I Continued on Page 4. ' ! - " " I i 1 " ' i! t 4 ' I LECTURE FOR K. OF C. AT OGDEN. Continued from Page 1. but right to say that this semblance is now taken away. In 1905, however, the adversaries of Chris tianity became so strong in the chambers that tlw present separation law was proposed and carried. If this were a fair and honest measure such as that lately enacted in Brazil and accepted by the Pope or such as an American congress would pass if it had the question to be dealt with, neither Pope nor French Catholic, much less an American Catholic, would object to it, except, perhaps, as an act of bad faith on the part of France in breaking the con- cordat. But this is just what it is not and I do not . think tlat there is a fair minded man1 in America 4 who wOy'uld call "it so if he were thoroughly posted on the situation. The two vital articles in this law of separation are articles ir. and viii. Article originally provided 'that a year after the passing of i the law all the church property should be devoted to associations formed under the new law.' It sbcidd be stated here that this church property so cavalierly cavalier-ly given away consists of the bequests and ifona-ttiona ifona-ttiona of the faithful since 1S01 and is said to be worth $100,000,000. There was no question or consideration con-sideration at all proposed of the $300,000,000 confiscated con-fiscated in the great revolution or of the miserable stipends allowed the bishops and priests of the church by the concordat in lieu of that old spoliation. spolia-tion. T? $300,000,000 and the stipends were alike to go forever. That is the French notion of a solemn sol-emn contract! "Everybody wanted to know during the debate on this article 4 how the new associations "vere to be formed. An amendment was proposed and carried car-ried that, the associations 'shall be legally formed in accordance with the rules of general organization organiza-tion of the religion of which they are to maintain the exercise.' Mr. Ribot, a non-Catholic deputy, asked the meaning of this amendment, and whether the Catholic church property can be turned ever to any new associations, except to those approved by the bishop. To this, Mr. Briand (not c-ur William J.) answered: 'Xo. we do not wish that anyone should be able to accuse us of laying a trap for the church.' Now, bear this declaration of the French minister in mind, and then hear the sequel. This statement satisfied the Catholic members of the chamber and they voted for artielo 4 so amended and it became the law. Things went on until article ar-ticle 8 of the law was reached, which provided 'that if several new associations claimed the same church property the dispute should be decided by the civil tribunals of the place where the dispute arose, ;but on May 23'. 1905, the government introduced a new amendment to this article to the effect that in cases whore the property transferred is claimed at once or later by several associations set up for the exercise exer-cise of the same form of worship, the transfer might be accepted before the council of state (a political body), and be by them decided. This is the worst point in the whole law. The laws of France, as well as the laws of England and Americn, bearing bear-ing on a dispute between two rival claimant to church property in the same organization, enjoin on legal tribunals that whenever the questions of discipline dis-cipline or of faith or ecclesiastical rule, custom or law have been decided by the highest of thes? church judicators, to which the matter has been carried, car-ried, the legal tribunals must accept such decisions as final and binding. But this amendment, conceived con-ceived in iniquity and bad faith and intended :is the foul trap the lying minister of public worship protested they could not think of, abrogates the general law in its application to these associations cultuelles, and hands over the church and Jhe bishops bish-ops and the church property to a notoriously corrupt cor-rupt and atheistical council of state. Hear what Mr. Ribot, the high-minded Protestant deputy before be-fore referred to, said in the chamber of deputies anent this infamous amendment: 'You explained article 4, We accepted it loyally and voted for it. There was a majority of 174 based on your explanation". explana-tion". Is it n true? Xo one will contest it. Were you not serious when you voted article 4? Do you wish to destroy utterly today wdiat you then did? You leave to the council of state to decide arbitrarily arbi-trarily of whom the Catholic associations should be composed. Separation! It is a pretense. The Catholic associations which you have emancipated on paper you keep under stricter rule than ever. You say to them, "If you dcr not please us, if your attitude is not agreeable to the prefect or the min- ' ' I ister we reserve the right to set up against yuU an- 1 I other association and give it your property so that I todav vou may be the church but tomorrow you wiU J not be" The majority laughed, the brutal laugh i :t of Marat. Danton or lbespiorro. In the senate when the law was debated M. ( lemoneeau boldly proclaimed 'It is necessary for us to take nles be I tween the rights of God and the rights ot man. t,.' ! latter being our fundamental political organization. I It might be well here to quote what Mr. Viviam.. 1 the new minister of labor, said in the chamber of I deputies last 'November: "We have extinguished m 1 heaven lights that will not be- rekindled, we hav I taught, the toiler and the destitute that heaven cor, 1 tained only phantoms.' i The lecturer gave an exhaustive and clear expla J nation of the cultural associations, through which "the law creates in every parish of I ranch a board j of lavmen. seven for parishes of 1.0o and under. fifteen for parishes of 2.00 to 20.WX). and twenty- f five for parishes over 20.000 population. ulu-e f boards which may. under the present cond-tion ot i . things in France, be composed of anti-religionists. 1 would have complete control of everything relating. to religious functions. indejendent of Po;e. bi-hop ( or priest, with full power to hire pastors, to deter- X mine the kind of worship. t coutrol the funds and religious edifices, sacred vessels ami vestment which are all listed to the state, and. i fine, all else relating to religion, and in ease of the parish not having one of the boards, then no worship all. The law also compels all ecclesiastical student -to spend five years learning the art of war in tl.. barracks of the country. These are the laws which tne t'ope is not ask-; to accept for he is not recognized at all, but whi . the Catholics of France are asked to live undrr but which their bishops and the Pope unanimous!.-advise unanimous!.-advise them to refuse. Mr. Briand did not exper they would be accepted, for he said a few days ag.. that "the government knew that the law of l'.iO.", would be rejected by the Holy See." The lecture concluded with a review of the lar election and quotations from American and English En-glish non-Catholic writers. lie said: "A review of the last elections in France show-; that a change of 23,000 voters would upset the present pres-ent atheistical masters of the country and place sane legislators in the saddle, and it is further eon- tended that energetic and united action of the Catholics in France can accomplish this result. I hope it is so. It is very gratifying to notice that there is coming over the American press and people peo-ple a change of sentiment as the provisions of thi- : inequitious law are becoming better known, and it I is also noted that the Catholics of France are lining lin-ing up to united action. To prove this .change of sentiment among American divines outside the Catholic church, and also by Protestant editors. I quote you the following: Mr. Hemphill. Presbyterian Presbyter-ian editor of the Xews and Courier. Charleston, writes: 'Appeal as we may to our religious prejudices preju-dices and rejoice as some of us are accustomed to do at the discomfiture of the prieste in this case, there is no mistaking the true tendency of the revolutionary rev-olutionary conditions in France. It is not the K. C. church but Christianity that is at stake in the light in France is at bottom the fight of the Christian Chris-tian world.' The Protestants have as much at issue is-sue in this struggle, in principle, as the R. CT jolics. The fight in France is for the cont' v vy, church by the state in all matters relat it. ship so that when Christ is run out of I ! i.'" sacrifices of the Mass will be succeeded gies of the flesh.' f I j "Here is an extract from a Lutheran jl E. Gerfen. of Gibsonburg. O.: ."This stnif T longer a war on the Catholic church only. t all Christian creeds and principles, on all hum'tu ,and divine rights. The real question at issue is whether atheism, infidel secretism and promoters of so-called free morals shall have the privilege and power to turn any Christian organization and dictate dic-tate who shall perform the functions and duties of the sacred office for the ministry.' I have read quite a number of these Protestant protests lately, although al-though at first the cry of approval seemed universal and I just saw today where the Episcopal bishop of Maine has authorized the churches of his diocese to offer up a special prayer in behalf of the Catholic Cath-olic church France. Another hopeful sign for the future is found in the fallowing extract from 'The Sftfurday Review,' an English Protestant Review. Re-view. It characterizes the. united stand of the French Catholics as historically remarkable for never before in the struggle between the state and the Vatican in France has French Catholicism ranged itself so unanimously on the side of the papacy. From the greater part of Christendom, to its shame be i,t said, there comes but scant sympathy sympa-thy with Ine persecuted church. History, happily, may be trusted to" set the matter right and to do a generous if, tardy justice to the brave men who are ! fighting the battle of religious liberty before the world and are preserving for France the faith of ! Christ.' "A further charge has been made against tin-Pope tin-Pope by ignorant writers that he accepts in Ger many what he refuses in France, but this is not so. for Germany recognizes the Catholic hierarchy and even honors it and a mere declaration of worship is all the buvden cast on the church now in thai country. A c-fumsy attempt has lately been made by the French government to save its imperilled neck by declaring that it will allow public worship to go on if a declaration for public meetings b made by the priests. The law of public meetings, besides being improper and undignified terms for the designation of Catholic worship, would allow any socialist or atheist to make the least disturbance disturb-ance in the church during serice upon which gen-d'arme would spring up and declare the 'meeting' 'meet-ing' dissolved even if it were the minute of consecration. con-secration. -This trap was also respectfully declined. '" Xothing is now left the despicable French ministry minis-try butto close all the Catholic churches in France unless they can get Archbishop Valatte, a French renegade priest, to ordain 30.000 of his priests for the parishes of. France. It is a safe prophecy, I believe, be-lieve, to say that the end of this villanous'atfack is in sight, although the. church may have to 6tand some rough buffets before it ends and her bishops and priests be sorely tried, but 'the blood of the. martyrs is the seed of the church' and out of these tribulations the undying words of Christ will bririg a glorious issue for French Catholicism, perhaps tV shine brighter and clearer from its brief eclipse. Iii this short essay I have merely aimed to give the-salient the-salient facts so that anyone of us may be able to give an intelligent answer to those seeking information infor-mation on a subject which is now absorbing tlv interest of the world. I take it that one of the great objects of our order is the dissemination of true knowledge of the Christian philosophy of the Catholic Cath-olic church, and, n proportion as we are zealous in 1 the work so will much of the remaining ignorance h and prejudice in Catholic matters fade awav from t j the American and other races who love Christianity j ' but are not of us, and the Catholic church be reco"'" f V nized for what she, is and more the oldest and tru- j est friend of the liberties and progress of the hu- I man re'1. f - 7i |
