FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

Mataura Ensign, 16 August 1906, Page 4

FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Per United Press Association. HOME, August 15. Tho Pope, receiving the Prussian ilinister at the Vatican, incidentally regretted that the action of the French Government had rendered it impossible •for the Church to avoid a conflict with the civil authorities. PARIS, August J3. The Pope's Encyclical to the French bishops, published here, deplores their coming trials and vigorously denounces a law which is not separation but oppression and will lead to civic discord. He rejects the Public Worship Association's proposals, which he declares impossible, and advises canonical Inw instead, until the latter is ; made legally irrevocable and made to embody the divine and immutable rights'of tho Pontiff and bishops, as constituting their authority over church property and edifices. His Holiness urges the bishops and French Catholics to employ all means the law recognises as within the rights of ail citizens to organise worship and strutrgle vigorously tor the defence of their religion, without recourse to sedition or violence, He predict* a reaction which will result in rescinding! these laws. 'T.e 'Temps' says the Encyclical will grieve. all friends of religious peace. "The Vatican's intolerance will bear its fruits. This is a country of common sense, desiring, above all. calm." •|.e Temps' will not admit that the present decision is a result of a truly Christian and reasonable inspiration. A paradox is that temples offered by the State are refused by the religious authority.