THE FRENCH CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 12927, 25 September 1906, Page 6

THE FRENCH CHURCH

DECISION OF THE BISHOPS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, September 24. A declaration signed by three French cardinals, sixteen axchbishops, and ninetyseven bishops has been published. It states that the signatories have accepted the Pope's decision, and that it is impossible to form associations cultuelles without violating the sacred rights of the Church. The priests prefer to submit to spoliation and poverty rather than to betray their duty, and they appeal to the faithful to contribute towards the support of the ministry. [According to the law promulgated on December 9, 1905, the Churches are separated from the State, but the adherents of all creeds (Roman. Catholic, Reformed, Augsburg Confession, and Jewish) may form associations for public worship (associations cultuelles), and the State, the Departments, and' the Communes are relieved from payment of salaries. All buildings actually used for public worship after an inventory has been taken are made over to the Associations. The Pope on August 15 last issued an encyclical to tlie French bishops which denounced the Separation law, declared it was 'impossible for the Church to accept the Associations under the Act, advised the formation of Canonical Associations, and appealed to the faithful to vigorously defend their religion without recourse to violence. There are seventeen archbishops and sixty-seven bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in France, excluding Algeria and the colonies.]