A CURIOUS REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 208, 6 September 1904, Page 2

A CURIOUS REPORT.

OUTCOME OP THE FRANCOVATICAN "SITUATION." PARIS, September 8. • Le Gaulois, a French journal, states that the Vatican proposes to appoint the Bishop of Dijon Vicar Apostolic in Australia. LONDON, September 4. The Times' Paris says the only serious ultramontane charge against him is his alleged, but extremely improbable, affiliation with Freemasonry. SYDNEY, September.B. . Monslgnor O'Haran (secretary to Cardinal Moran), declares that the cable referring to the Bishop of Dijon is an absolute absurdity. There carf' never be such an office as apostolic » vicar of Australia. Such personage is usually a titular bishop appointed to a country where either no sees have been formed 0 r where the episcopal succession has been broken. FRENCH GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. :Re:eivod September 6. 1.5 a.m.* *r o -> P D AIU3, B «Pt«nbers: M. Conrixss, Premier, m a speech at Auxorre, said that Included in the uovernniont programme was the at- ' rogation of the Concordat and tho separation of Church and Stat* He advocated separation by mutual eonsent, for tho sake of social peace and religious liberty. He intimated that the imposition of an Income tax and workman's pensions would take precedence in the programme M. Combes subsequently informed an * interviewer that he was prepared to i allow the churches tho temporary use ' of buildings, also budgets, with a full opportunity of gradually establishing autonomy under common law. The Bishop of Dijon was called to Home, and decided to obey the call, despite the objection, under the Concordut, of tho French Government.