Page:The Constitutions and Other Select Documents Illustrative of the History of France, 1789-1907, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged.pdf/693

Rh plementary measure adopted in consequence of the refusal of the catholic church to form associations of worship for the holding of ecclesiastical property. Document B sets forth the position of Pius X in opposition to the terms of the law of separation and the manner of its enactmen, while document E sums up his opposition to the additional legislation of the French government embodied in document D. Between these two encyclicals another was issued which specifically forbade catholics to form associations of worship such as the law contemplated. Document C was addressed to the bishops of France and was signed by twenty-three laymen distinguished for their loyalty to the catholic church and of many catholics who, prior to the taking of positive action by Pius X, held that the catholic church ought to conform to the law of separation.

Robinson and Beard, Modern Europe, II, 166–172; Sabatier, Disestablishment in France; Guerlac, Political Science Quarterly, XXIII, 259–296.

A. Law of Separation. December 9, 1905. Duvergier, Lois, CV, 586–625. Translation based upon that of Robert Dale in Sabatier, Disestablishment in France, 139–168.

Title I. Principles.

1. The Republic assures the liberty of conscience. It guarantees the free exercise of religions, subject only to the restrictions hereinafter imposed in the interest of the public order.

2. The Republic neither recognizes nor salaries nor subsidises any religion. In consequence, from the first of January which shall follow the promulgation of the present law, all expenses relative to the exercise of religions shall be suppressed in the budgets of the state, departments, and communes. Nevertheless, the expenses relative to the services of the office of chaplain and intended to assure the free exercise of religions in the public establishments, such as lycées, colleges, schools, hospitals, asylums, and prisons may be inscribed in the budgets.

The public establishments of religion are suppressed, subject to the provisions set forth in article 3.

Title II. Assignment of Property Pensions.

3. The establishments whose suppression is enacted by article 2, shall continue in operation provisionally, in conformity with the arrangements which at present regulate them, until the assignment of their property to the associations provided for by title IV and at the latest until the expiration of the period stated hereinafter.