The French Persecution

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 27, Issue 21, 27 May 1909, Page 810

The French Persecution

Lord Brougham once pointed out, in emphatic speech, the great danger of deviations from its fundamental principles in a free Constitution. The temporary introduction of arbitrary power (said he) likens it to the worst despotisms, and produce the very abuses -for which those bad systems are renowned. In fact, he went so far as to say that ' such powers are more dangerous, and more likely to be abused, than the habitual authority of the Sovereign in despotic Governments.' France under the present persecution, like Ireland under coercion, furnishes , a melancholy illustration of the truth of Brougham's words. The wholesale proscription anil plunder carried out under the Associations Law are further aggravated by the official penalising of the practice of their faith by Government employees and their families, and by the impunity which is habitually extended to insults to religion such as could only be possible under what the Saturday Revieio aptly describes as ' a regime of aggressive atheism.' Mrs. C. E. Jeffery furnishes the Catholic Times with the following translation of an article in a Paris newspaper describing the anti-religious orgies that were carried out, without molestation by the authorities, during the carnival at Franc-Nohain. The extract ran as follows: 'At tho head of the procession was an individual wearing the sacerdotal vestments, and having his face covered by a mask in the form of a pig's head. Behind him came the members of the gymnastic and musical societies, dressed as" acolytes and choir boys, with large red crosses on their breasts. Others were disguised as monks, and even nuns. This respectable cortege perambulated the streets singing obscene songs and choruses, and varying their performance by grotesque genuflections and blasphemous parodies of the Lord's Prayer. Such is the delicate and elegant manner in which the carnival is permitted to be celebrated in an important commune in the neighborhood of Paris. Our rulers serve a " proces-verbal " on a Suisse [verger], who crosses the road irom the church to his own door in the uniform of his office; a priest is put in prison for wearing his ecclesiastical vestments in officiating at the interment of the mortal remains of one of his own parishioners, and women are forbidden to kneel in prayer as a funeral procession passes. All this in order that the susceptibilities of freethinkers may not be offended and liberty of conscience (to infidels) may be safeguarded. But when it comes to vile and ignoble parodies of religion it is another thing. They are freely permitted because they only shock those who believe. Thus an odious exhibition like that at Franc-Nohain, intended to turn into derision the faith is regarded as a display of gaiety, humor, and the most exquisite taste. Should any person express sur-i 1 prise, indignation, or disgust, and raise his voice to protest, the answer js: "What, is it not longer permitted to young people to amuse themselves?" But he must not reply:. "Is it, then, no longer permitted to believe in God?" Because to do so would be contrary to the spirit of the law of separation.' / • The Sultan of the legend asked Solomon for a motto for a signet or seal-ring — a motto that should hold good both for prosperity and for "adversity. And Solomon gave this for a motto : ' This also shall pass away.' The brunt of the persecution of religion in France will probably soon pass. It passed after the worse throes of the Reign of Terror. The present persecution has apparently o'ervaulted its purpose and gone to extremes from which the sane bulk of the nation must, in the ordinary course, revolt in self-defence against menaced public and private rights. Archbishop Ireland, of St. Paul (United States), knows France like the pages of an open book. Than the French clergy, said he recently, ' there is no better in the world.' They are (added he) ' animated with a zeal quite new. They are making noble efforts to put themselves in close contact with their people, and especially with theiryoung people, whom formerly they seldom saw except from their stalls, in which they sat clothed in their sacerdotal ornaments. One advantage of the separation of the Church and State is that it has obliged the' priest to mix

intimately with the people who support him, like we do in America. God knows how to draw good from evil. I cannot believe that the Faith is dead in the heart of the Frenchman ; it sleeps. May the awakening be soon.' At Havre he said : ' From what I have seen and heard during my stay here, I have formed the distinct impression that the State's policy of persecuting religion will not last much louger ; that there will be an arrangement to intervene soon." A republic, especially a republic like France, where the people are* volatile, cannot endure without religion, which is the creator of the individual conscience. Tho forces of order ' and public security realise that with the anchor gone the people will go adrift. The present strikes aud unrest are giving the Government rich food for reflection.'