FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3732, 15 December 1906, Page 4

FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

The Struggle Begins.

The Pope’s Agent Expelled.

Explanation by the Premier.

Tho Pope’s Views.

Paris, Dec. 12

M. Briand is preparing bills providing for the withdrawal of pensions from clergy convicted of infringing the law, and abrogating the year’s grace regarding the liquidation of public establishments of Catholic worship sequestrated in the absence of worship associations. Moreover, 5500 young ecclesiastics will be summoned to join the army in January unless they produce certificates from public worship associations entitling them to exemption. M. Briand is preparing a Bill to assimilate refractory priests with men who, under existing law, are liable to forfeiture ot French nationality for serving a foreign Government without authorisation. The Public Prosecutor has opened an inquiry into the alleged incitations to rebellion against the law made by three priests from Paris pulpits. They announced that they had Papal instructions and introduced their own impassioned commentaries. The judical authorities regard Monsignor Montagni, the Pope’s semi-official representative since the Papal Nuncio’s recall, as an accomplice of the three priests, and the Pope’s mouthpiece in ignoring the law of 1882. Hence his residence was searched, and documents, including a letter intended for Cardinal Merry del Val, was seized. An expulsion order was subsequently served on Montagni, who was conducted across the frontier last night. M. Clemenceau, replying in the Chamber of Deputies to a question, said Monsignor Montagni, the late Nuncio’s auditor, would not have been disturbed if he had restricted himself to his duties as custodian of the Nunciature’s document, but he had transmitted Cardinal Merry del Val’s instruction to the Bishops to violate the law. It was the duty of the Government not to tolerate such things. M. Briand had offered the Catholics the common law modified to suit them. Many Bishops and priests had been instructed to conform thereto, but’ seeing peace ahead and (iot warning law, they had sought strife. He added: “If they make war against the law, the Government will make war against them. The Government has fired the first gun, but there is still time to avoid a battle if the enemy desire. The Government is inexorable on the question of the independance of civil society. The Government’s acts are legal, but energetic Catholics should think of the future of their faith. The Government offer them liberty of public meetings. If they wish peace it is possible. It they want war they can have it, and it they are looking for the Government they will find it.” Before he spoke two-thirds of the Deputies in the Chamber cheered M. Clemenceau heartily. The Vatican contends that the proposed regime offers no security for the future. The Pope exclaimed : “ Nothing will stop us —neither persecution nor martyrdom—from protecting our religion. Our cause is God’s.” All the Paris churches made the declaration under the Public Meeting Act, which legalises religious worship. The police seized a mass of diplomatic correspondence at Monsignor Montagni’s residence, compromising some Deputies. Sympathising letters from English and Irish Bishops were also found. Paris, Dec. 13. Two thousand documents seized at the Nunciature conclusively prove that the bishops were almost unanimous in accepting the separation law, but that they obeyed, not without deep regret, the Pope’s instructions which were communicated through Monsignor Montagni. The secrecy of all documents of a diplomatic nature have been scrupulously respected by the Government. It is stated at Rome that up to the last moment the Vatican hoped that France would renew negotiations. Several laymen have authorised a collective notification on behalf of all Paris churches, but the Archbishop repudiates their action. Masses were announced as usual to-day, when the Government issued orders to prosecute every priest officiating without notification. Several notified the authorities. Others have determined cn passive resistance. Many bishops and priests are quitting their residences. Cardinal Merry del Val protests against the searching of the Nunciature’s archives, and the Vatican press delare it a brutal affront.