p. 16 | CATHOLICISM IN FRANCE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 24, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 12.

CATHOLICISM IN FRANCE.

If the Church of Rome is the infallible church, it follows that what is taught in France is true here. Now here is an utterance from the organ of the French Catholic clergy. We quote from the Independent:—

“Just how French clericalism proposes to make use of the present state of affairs in that republic, is indicated by the official party election program, as published in the Revue des Clergé Français. It begins as follows:—

“‘The church has the recognized right to govern not only individuals and families, but also nations. In other words, the State is not independent of the church; it is the State’s duty to accept, confess, and protect the Catholic religion. It is the object of the State to protect the secular welfare of the people; but it is the sphere of the church to guard their eternal happiness. The sphere of the church is, accordingly, infinitely higher than that of the State, and the latter sphere is subordinate to the former. This subordination of ends brings with it, also, the subordination of means, and, as a result of this, it is apparent that the State is subordinate to the church. Nothing can overthrow this argument.’”

“As a consequence of this position, the program maintains that it is the duty of the State to render all possible service to the church. The church is both a divine and a human association, and possesses power to teach, to make laws, and to inflict punishment; she has the right to punish heretics with ‘material’ punishments, i. e., fines, etc.; she further has the right to ask of the State to use the powers at her command for carrying out the spiritual interest, which it is the function of the church to preserve and protect. The program concludes with these words:— “‘By divine right the pope is the head of the church, the authority as the exponent of the highest morality, which has the right of prescribing to the princes the directions and rules which they are in duty bound to observe in the government of their States.’”

And this is the doctrine of the Catholic Church in this country, however it may be denied. And it is the object of that church to see that doctrine in operation all over the world. And, for a brief period, her triumph will come; and then?—And then her eternal overthrow, and the reign of Christ forever.