CHURCH AND STATE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2024, 8 March 1907, Page 1

CHURCH AND STATE

THE POPE’S ENCYCLICAL. ROME, Jan. 13. In the course of his Encyclical the Pope says that the chief object of tho Encyclical is to comfort the French Church for her sufferings. These are deeply felt by the Pope, but are sweetened by a great consolation, namely, the union of French Catholics. The French Government’s declaration of war, the Encyclical continues, is not only against the Christian faith, but against, (ill ideas, of a belief in the supernatural. French Catholics must be prepared for all trials, confident- of final victory, for which union with the Holy See is indispensable, the importance of that union being shown by the efforts of the enemies of the Church to break it. Contrary to what has been said, His Holiness continues, (lip Church does not wish for a religious war or violent persecution. Being tlio messenger of peace and loyal to lior mission, she unwillingly endures war and persecutions, desiring not the sufferings of lior children. AVifh regard to tlio sequestration of ecclesiastical properties in France, the Pope declares that he has not abandoned them. Tho Froivch Government imposed upon the Church an organisation which she is absolutely unable to accept without imperilling her divine constitution. She was obliged to refrain from preventing the unjustspoliation, as the public worship associations set up by the French law are opposed to the hierarchy established by Christ. Therefore the Pope condemned them notwithstanding material injuries inflicted on the church. The French Government in saying that it had disposed of the abandoned properties was adding derision to spoliation. It is false, says the Poptiff, that he cqndoninfid in France what, lie approved in Germany, as the German public worship associations are merely tolerated, and they recognise the hierarchy, which is not the case in France The Holy See miglr-. have tolerated tho annual declaration required by the French Government for the exercise of public worship, although no legal guarantee is offered, but for the impossible position of tin parish priests under the terms of M. Briand’s circular. The Encyclical declares that tho Bill of Jan. 2 is with reference to Church properties purely and simply a law of confiscation, and regarding the exercise of worship, introducing, as it does, everywhere, arbitrariness and uncertainty and increasing the severity of the former law. The Pope therefore con demns the Bill,

“T!ic adversaries of tho Cliufch,” the document continues, “attempt t make the Holy See responsible for the present situation, because they know that this work does not meeii the wishes of the country.” The P-: concludes by appealing to the judgment of history, which will say tin the Papacy, in acting as it did, did not wish to humiliate the civil powc or oppose one form of Government, but defended with all its strength tho work of the Divine Founder of ■he Church, demanding “respect f< the hierarchy and inviolability of itsproperty and liberty.” The Encyclical concludes as follows: “The Papacy wished to remind flip world that man must concern himself hero below with higher ideals th the occurrences of everyday life, an-' that tho supreme inviolable joy o' the human soul oil earth is to accomplish duty at all costs, and in this manner, notwithstanding all, to honor, serve, and love God.”—Reuter.