CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12817, 17 March 1905, Page 6

CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE.

THE SEPARATION BILL.

New Yokk, February 22. A despatch from Paris says: The Rouvier Ministry to-day presented in the Chamber of Deputies the draft of a new Bill for the separation of Church and State. The measure has been anxiously awaited, owing to the doubt raised by friends of tho former Premier, M. Combes, joticerning the sincerity of the new Ministry in carrying out the policy of separation. When, therefore, the Minister for Public Instruction, Bienvenu Martin, presented the Bill in the Chamber of" Deputies it was greeted with long applause. The text of the new. measure makes the separation of Church and State definite and conclusive, but omits a number of details that were in the Combes Bill that had aroused antagonism. The essential points of the new measure are: —

First: The abolition of the Concordat, whereby the relations of Church and State were established. Second: The termination of r.li Government aid and subsides to all religious sects or functionaries. Third: The formation of church associations into civil corporations, amenable to the same laws as other organisations. The Bill comprises twenty-three articles, and the text of the fresh articles is as follows : — "The Stato henceforth neither recognises nor contributes to any religious denomination. Public establishments of religion now existing are suppressed. All religious budgets of appropriations for Government Departments or communes are suppressed. The exorcise of religion is hereafter free, under the sole restriction that its exercise must accord with public order." The article abolishing the Concordat says : — All the laws and orders relative to public organisation or the recognition of religious denomination are abrogated, particularly the law ratifying the convention made between the Pope and the French Government." It is expected the new Bill wili be adopted in the Chamber of Deputies after the income tax and other measures upon which the Premier, M. Rouvier, demands early action have been adopted. However, there'is strong pressure by the Combes element for a speedy hearing, and this may lead to a determination to take up and debate the Bill without awaiting action on other measures. It is expected the Bill will bo discussed and voted on before the end of July.

CATHOLIC PARTY IN ENGLAND. A dispatch from Rome says:—Reports have reached the Vatican of the formation of a, largo Catholic party in England, under the leadership of tho Duke of Norfolk. The newCatholic league, styled " Pro Anglia Catholica," counts as members all the prominent Catholics of the United Kingdom, including several peers of the. realm. Its purpose is to obtain more favourable Catholic legislation from Parliament, especially regarding the partial support of Catholic" schools by the Government. All the regulations anil details have been submitted to tho Vatican authorities, who have approved. The credit for the now movement is accorded to Mgr. Bourne, the new Archbishop of Westminster, and to Cardinal Del Val.