Clericalism in France

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 35.

Clericalism in France.

The latest despatches from Paris give more definite information of the existing situation produced by the passage of what is known as “the Associations Bill,” which has just received the signature of President Loubet. The bill asserts the absolute freedom of religious or secular associations, except (1) in the case of mixed organizations of Frenchmen and foreigners, (2) in case the headquarters of organizations are in foreign countries, or (3) in the cases of organizations the members of which live in common.

The bill has a twofold purpose: first, to all French citizens it secures the widest freedom of action; secondly, it places just restraints upon certain monastic orders, whose possessions dot France like the holes in a pepper box.

The bill simply aims to protect the State against the encroachments of the wealthy monastic orders and especially their resistance of taxation; but no less, we need not say, against such deliberate plotting against the republic as the Assumptionists indulged in during the Dreyfus trial, which brought such scandal to the church. The intelligent peasants, the moral backbone of France, dread nothing more than government by priests and monks, and it is the protection of these that the bill has largely in view. It is therefore provided in the bill that all kinds of “associations, a majority of whose members are ‘foreigners, or which have foreigners to administer ‘them, or have their headquarters abroad, shall be ‘liable to be dissolved by a decree of the president ‘of the republic made in the council of ministers.”

As will be seen, while the bill interferes with no existing rights of Frenchmen, it has the object in view of suppressing the religious orders, which are administered from Rome, and which interfere with matters of State. The bill will not lessen the real spiritual power of the church, but it effectually divorces it from affairs of State and is therefore largely approved by the Catholic laity. It remains to be said that Pope Leo has issued a letter denouncing the enactment of the French Associations Act, and censuring the French republic for an act of such hostility to the brotherhoods. No less could be expected from his holiness, who in this matter will not have public opinion with him except in the limited circles of his special adherents.—Christian Work.