FRENCH CHURCH AND STATE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81901, 13 December 1906, Page 3

FRENCH CHURCH AND STATE

THE KKJHT l'OI! SITHEMACY. LATEST GOVEIINMENT I'UOPOSAL TREATING KOME AS FOREIGN COLNTRY. FORFEIT NATIONALITY OF UEFR.UTOUY IHUESTS. POPE'S REPRESENTATIVE EXPELLED THE COCXTRY. Received 12th, 10.40 p.m. Paris, December 12. M. Briand is preparing a Bill to assimilate refractory priests with men who, under the existing law, are liable lo forfeiture of their French nationality for serving a foreign Government without authorisation. The Public Prosecutor opened an enquiry into iucitations to rebellion against the law, when three priests from Paris pulpits announced they had Papal instructions to introduce their own impassioned commentaries. The Judicial authorities regarded Monsiguor Montagni, the Pope's semiofficial representative since the Nuncio's were recalled, as the accomplice of the three priests and the Pope's mouthpiece in ignoring the law of 1882, hence his residence was searched. Documents including a letter intended for Cardinal ilerrydelval, were seized. An expulsion order was subsequently served on iionsiguor Montagni, who was conducted across the frontier last night. GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. PUNISHMENT OF LAW-BREAKING PKIESTS. WIIIIDUAWAL OF PENSIONS. SUMMONED TO JOIN THE ARMY. Received 13th, 0.10 a.m. Paris, December 12. M. Briand is preparing Bills providing for liie withdrawal of pensions from clergy convicted of infringing the law, also to abrogate a year's grace regarding the liquidation of public establishments of Catholic worship sequestrated in the absence of public worship associations. Moreover, 5500 young ecclesiastics are to be summoned to joiu the army in January, unless they prodce certificates from public worship associations entitling them to eicmptiouo.