Where Rests the Blame? by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 29, 1909

Where Rests the Blame?

By C. M. S.

A CORRESPONDENT of the London Catholic Times, writing from Paris concerning a mock religious procession in a suburb of that city, bemoans the blasphemy of such exhibitions, and lays the blame for them upon the present attitude of the French government toward the Catholic Church. But the length of time that the Catholic Church has dominated France, and the fact that the demonstration complained of was wholly against the Catholic religion, would seem to indicate that the blame was not rightly placed by the correspondent of the Times. The paraders wore grotesque masks and the garb of priests, monks, nuns, acolytes, and choir boys, while they sang vulgar songs, and indulged in mock genuflections and parodies on religious exercises. Strange, is it not, that we must go to a Catholic country, centuries old in Catholic instruction, to find such public performances? If this were in a country where the system of religion practised by that church was new to the people, such a demonstration might be accounted for without any reflection upon the religious system involved. But in France this can not be done. The people have been subjected to a religion of compulsion, instead of being invited to a religion of choice. They have not heard the voice of love, reasoning with, persuading, drawing them to a Saviour smitten for their sins; but the voice of authority, commanding, compelling, driving them through a routine of form and ceremony that cost them dearly at every turn, and professed its ability to hold them under punishment even beyond the grave.

That church grew rich through its professed power to open the gates of purgatory on payment of a fee; and while professing power to open and shut heaven as well as purgatory, many of its exponents led lives before the people that shocked the moral sensibilities even of men of the world.

When a church professing to represent God, conducting its operations upon such a system, and claiming such unlimited power, is stripped of its property, and its congregations are scattered, simply by the power of man, it is not to be wondered at that the people rise and demonstrate their liberties by going to unseemly excesses in reviling such a system. The religion represented in that system has won neither the love nor the respect of a great portion of that people. Many a wicked man has listened to the gospel set forth in its purity and simplicity and love, and though not accepting it, has not felt in his heart to revile it. The correspondent already referred to sets forth some of the unsatisfactory conditions existing in France, in the following complaint:—

Our rulers serve a “proces verbal” on a Suisse who crosses the road from the church to his own door in the uniform of his office; a priest is put in prison for wearing his ecclesiastical vestments in officiating at the interment of the mortal remains of one of his own parishioners, and women are forbidden to kneel in prayer as a funeral procession passes. All this in order that the susceptibilities of freethinkers may not be offended, and liberty of conscience (to infidels) may be safeguarded.

But there is a reason for this. It was not always thus, and it never would have been thus had not the very officiousness of that system, its domineering characteristics, and its refusal to recognize the rights of others, invited the oppression of which it now complains. France has lived with the Catholic religion for centuries. She should have learned to respect it, and it is not entirely her fault if she does not.

C. M. S.