Mayor and Crucifix

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 21 January 1904, Page 30

Mayor and Crucifix

M. de la Barre, Mayor of Beauchene, has just been suspended from his functions by the Prefect of Loir-et-Cher (says the ' Tablet ') for having twice replaced a crucifix which had be"en removed by the schoolmaster from the walls of the communal school. The suspension "was explained to be for an infraction of a ministerial circular which M de la Barre, in a letter to the Prefect, declared had never been officially communicated to him He ariffs : • If it had been I should have read therein that " in schools of long-standing, the removal of religious emblems will be effected with all desirable prudence and respect in places where there is no risk of openly shocking the feelings of the people. The commune of Beauchene is entirely Catholic. . . and I strongly protest against an act which openly shocks the feelings of the majority of the population of which I anl" the representative, and against the clandestine giving of instructions instead of through the usual municipal channel.' As the sole reply to this letter of remonstrance the Prefect issued a decree of suspension against M. de la Barre, which has since been raised into one of dismissal by M. Combes.