Church and State in France
By Editor
The question whether church and state shall be separated is now agitating the minds of the people of France. A bill providing for the abrogation of the Concordat, or agreement by which church and state in France are united, is now before the Chamber of Deputies. The Concordat is the famous document drawn up between Napoleon I and Pope Pius VII, and by its terms the Catholic clergy in France are supported by the state, which in return is vested with more or less authority in the affairs of the church. The bill to abrogate the Concordat provides:— “Article 1.—All recognized churches are to be separated from the state. “Article 2.—From the date of the present law the Concordat and all previous agreements established with the different church officials are abrogated. “Article 3.—The moneys devoted yearly for religious worship are to be withheld. “Article 4.—The embassy at the Vatican is to be suppressed.” Articles 5 and 6 relate to the formation of religious organizations by the churches, having a legal status, by means of which they may hold church property; to the method of abrogating the Concordat, and to the status of the clergy which have been maintained by state support. “Article 7.—The moneys which will thus be placed at the disposal of the government shall be applied to the creation of a fund for the support of sick and aged workmen.” This bill is, of course, opposed by all the papal influence which the pope, who has long feared such a measure, can bring to bear. We trust it may aid in the great work of emancipating the minds of people in France and throughout Europe from papal domination.