A PAPAL DIRECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 164, 15 July 1904, Page 3

A PAPAL DIRECTION.

SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS FROM I'AIUS. BISHOPS ORDERED TO RESIGN. PARIS, July 13. The newspaper Le llatin assorts that the Pope directs seven French bishops to resign because they bowed to the French law. They have appealed to the Minister for Public Worship, who has directed them to remain in their dioceses. If the Vatican persists 'in Us action, it is believed the Concordat will be suppressed. The Concordat was the convention between Napoleon Bonaparte end Pope Pius V., made .July 15, 18ul. to regulate the relations of I'YtU"-0 with the Vatican, and It covered Ihe relations of Church and State. In Maich of last year M. Combes said the Government was in favour of maintaining the Concordat, but the clergy must keep outside of politics. The clergy, however, by the intemperance of their language, had he naid, exasperated tho Republicans and condemned to silence men of moderate opinions inclined- to plead their cause. Disturbances afterwards took place owing to the enforcement of the law against the religious orders, and in April a number of Deputies prepared a 'bill for the separation of Church and Slate, and pubished it. From to-day's cable news, I II it can be relied upon, it would ap- I pear as if such a measure mav yet be carried.