FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5374, 6 September 1904, Page 5

FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. ABROGATION OF THE CONCORDAT STATE-RENT BY THE FRENCH PREMIER. (Received September C, 1.5 a.m.) PARIS, September 5. The Premier and Minister of Public Worship, M. Combes, in a speech at Aiixcrro, Yoiiue, said that included in tho programme of the Government was tile abrogation of the Concordat and liio reparation of Ciiurcli and State. He advocated that tho reparation should bo by mutual consent, for the sake of social peace and religions liberty. AX. Combes also intimated that the imposition of an income tax and tho providing of pensions for workmen would take precedence in the programme. In an interview ho subsequently stated that he was prepared to allow the churches to have temporary use of tho buildings, and to give them full opportunity of gradually establishing an autonomy under tho common law. THE BISHOP OF DIJON. SUGGESTED APPOINTMENT TO AUSTRALIA. PARIS, September 4. The “Gaulois” states that the Vatican proposes to appoint the Bishop of Dijon Vicar Apostolic of Australia. LONDON, September 4. “ The Times’ ” Paris correspondent says the only serious 'ultramontane charge against the Bishop of Dijon is Ills alleged, hut extremely improbable, affiliation with Freemasonry. SYDNEY, September 5. Monsignor O’Haran declares that the cable message referring to tho Bishop of Dijon is an absolute absurdity. There can, lie says, never be such an office as tho Vicar Apostolic of Australia. Such a person is usually a titular Bishop appointed to a country where either no Sees have been formed, or where the episcopal succession has boon broken.