Page 96 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

application of the Law. De Freycinet suggesied that the governinent
should accept the verdict iif the Senate. The onus, therefore, was placed
squarely oii the Cliamber. Tlie leaders of the major republican groups
theii agreerl in ptinriple thnt, a3 far a the spirit OF Article Seven went,
its rejection iti tliz Sznatz wns not hintling in lhe Chamber. The next
day, by a fornial uiotion. the Ctianiber erprvs~ed corifideiice in the
government, relyirig on its pcrseverariee in the ap1il;caiinn of laws
relating to non-anthorized religions assoria~inns. Withont debate, the
CIianiIier t1ieri passed [lie bill iiti Higher Education as it was retnrned
from the Senate, and the Law was proninlgated on Mareh 18.
Perhaps in order to set the rtlorid for the bold aetion which was to
foIlow, a Deputy, Paul Bert, spoke at lcriptli at a private meeiirig on
RIarcIi 21 in Le Havre. A few ideas expi,ess~d nn that nceasion illnstrated
the principal avenue of his nwri tlion$its. as well as tliat ci1 Ferry, Brisson,
Gambetta et h,oc genw omne. The Je-siiiit~ ii-er.~ I~P main iarget nt Iiis
irivective :
These nlleged ieacliers have plnctd thr mci lvra iiuit.idr if 5ocii:iy bv iheir
VOWE, discipline and dnc~rinrs ini~lullin:: ihrir garli . . . wr rannot hrar
io sce ihe educaiion O[ youili ~ntroaird io Iliein any Inngpr . . . in their
eyes, France cnmea long oiier Rcime: iheir iczrhin~ cnirnrn~d wiih niystiraI
noiisense, js a daily proies1 againtt ihc mort prrcious cit ihiogs ihat ilie
Frcnch RevoIu~ion bequcaihrd to ni : fre~d<irn ci[ conscicnrc.(l@)
Th4 golvernment was eoniniittzd to vizld tn the atitaconism tondard
the JPSUI~~. But lew antieipated th? exiremes tii rvtiirh it wae ready to
go. The dead ariicle seven was to e.rclui1~ tlie Jzsuits from education;
the Eiiverrinient tiow preparecl a measnre tii exclude thern ironi France
il~~lf.

On Marcli 29 ihe Presiderit sigiied tivo Deeiees to ivarry out this
decision. The provisions of i1ie first of ilic Liccrees of illorrh 29 alliiwed
the Jesnits, specifically, ihree niontlis in iehich tci disperse and In evar:iiate
ilie esiahlistinienti wliich thc! oeenpied. The second Dccree llemanded
ilint al1 oiher nori-authorized orders aplily, within ~he sarrie period, Ior
autliorization from the government.'lQ)
Frurn t1ien on, tIiis radicall? anti-elerieal mensiire drnpped al1
pretensions of being motivated hy ail! thiug liut ~iolitical reasoiis. Hano-
taux stated tliat ". . . Free tlionght and Free rtloatinry iiiteiibened iio less
enargetieally, r:onvinced i1iat riothing eould be done in Frsnc~ utitil she
was releiised from Rortlon Catholic iriflueiice".
Coriversely, just tliree days belore the J)ei*rees sttuek atid stunned
i1ie Catliolies, Cardinal Borinerho~e wroie to ttie Pope : "1 cati onlv

(lai ncrt, p. 118.
(19) There were nine religioos conpegaiions engoged in leacliinp at ~his lime, but
cinly the Lnzariats aniong theni were autho~ized to Leach in accordante witli
a decree 01 July 27, 1876.
(20) Op. CIL, W. 526.