THE CHURCH IN FRANCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 6

THE CHURCH IN FRANCE.

, Reviewing the situation of the Church in France during tho past year, tho "Pμrespondance de Dome" finds much tint is encouraging so far as organisation and the struggle for the schools is concerned. \\ mist the Law of Separation. tends to produce automatically the effect of impoverishing the clergy, a low new diocesan unions continue to be formed But what is wore striking is the number of diocesnn congresses which have been held, and the comprehensive and enthusiastic way in which they baro sought to grnpnlc with the problems which face those who are working tor the cause, of religion in Trance. Aα to the other ersat point upon which Catholic, effort and interest are centred—the school—the out look is- not li-ilboiifc nigns of encourao-o-ment. Tho place of the schools tftit have been closed is being supplied by the opening of new oues. Iu scimn dioceses there has been no incident of conflict over condemned manuals or offending teachers, but in others where there have been difficulties over these points, both clergy and parents have shown ,i vigilance and on energy which have generally proved successful. This has bren especially striking, we are told, in the West of.France," where tho Catholic schools continue to receive such neensaious of scholars that sonic of the secular schools have had to be closed. In this movement the declaration of (ho Minister for Public Instruction that the State school is now, owing to the changes which have taken place in the mentojity of tho teachers, tho "ecole sans Dieu" has produced no small effect. How all-embracins is the work' of ths diocesan unions and . committees may bo seen from (lie report presented in Cardinal Amettp by. the Diocesan Committee of Paris. The Women's. Leagues haiv undertaken a campaign against certain pagan fashions. The Committee of Knit, jjious Works- has procured the adoption ol a ('ay within the Odava of tlin Snored Heart "which shall be .ievoled by llm clergy to.the consideration of ways and mean's best, calculated lo secure ihn recruitment of the ranks of the priesthood. Then there' is to be established in cnc.h.parish a committee .of fathers of families lrhieli, under .Hie guirlnnce of the cure, shall endeavour to check the evil of pernicious litcrnture by careful examination of thn bocks iii the municipal libraries- and in schools. At the saint" time, in order to prevent nwdless and useless fussiness, or other imprudent action, it is provided that those committees shall, before acting, take comisd with the diocrsan authorities. Kpwial attention is also being directed to social questions, fuch .-us the cheap and comfortable honaiiig of the working classes and the formation of building societies. The anti-clerical campaign conducted in Ihe press if being met by the'publication or p.-iinphlol-s and lectures arc buiny ar-r.-uv'Qi) to ilon) vr\Vh the tlelnw- 'if (Ut c.Unrfhcs.-the l.illle . Sisters of (lie A*. siiinpiiiin. 'lie Education Hills, proportional ropvesentiitiaii. the lii-tnry of rr.-inc: , and tlie Pop''.