CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 7

CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE.

LAW TO BE ENFORCED.

FURTHER LEGISLATION

THREATENED.

By Telegraph.— I'm* Association.—Copyright.

Paris. December 10. After to-morrow (the nth inst.) those responsible for the holding of any assembly for public worship, of which notification has not been given, will be punished by fine or imprisonment.

Dr. Lee at, the Ultramontane Archbishop of Bordeaux, who had authorised his clergy to notify the assemblies on the grounds of mere formality, has now withdrawn this authorisation, and the clergy are bidden to continue the services as before.

The Public Prosecutor has been instructed to prosecute in every case of infringement, of the law. At the same time the Government threatens fresh and drastic legislation.

From lie above ami from a. cablegram in yesterday's HERALD it would appear that the French Government lias gone further than depriving the bishops ami 'clergy of the Church properties. Under a law of 1881 uc meeting can lie held in Franco without an official notification being first. Riven. The Government intends to enforce this law against the clergy in the event of their holding services. Tile Pope, it was stated in yesterday's Herald, has refused to giro even an annual notification of the intention to hold services in a particular building. There is, therefore, to be no relenting on either side, and France apparently is entering upon a bitter struggle.