CHURCH-GOING IN PARIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 5

CHURCH-GOING IN PARIS.

A HE VIVA E OF CATHOLICISM. ".' Some interesting details of the revival of Catholicism in France since the Separation Act are given in the French press. It was certainly thought that the loss'of property consequent on the Act would cripple the French Church for many years to come. But the contrary is (lie result. Tho bishops are no longer compelled to ask the Government for- permission to open new churches or divide parishes that hnd becomo too large. There 1 has consequently been a steady increase in new churches and parishes. fn Paris to-day there are nine more parishes than there were when the separation of Chinch and State was effected. In ■the Parisian suburbs the number of new parishes is .15'. In addition to this 21 newdistrict, chapels have been opened. It is estimated that the creation of new parishes in Paris and in the suburbs and tho opening of chapels has placed public worship within the reach of 039,1100 persons who were formerly deprived of that advantage j 258,000 for the new Paris parishes, 215,000 for tho new suburban parishes, and 100,000 for the new chapels. The result has been a steady increase in the number of people attending churchy in Paris. This all points to the conclusion that disestablishment is not the unmixed evil that Churchmen declare it to be, but that, on the contrary, by giving mere freedom to a Church, it leads to the revival of religion.—"Westminster Gazette." ■