FRENCH REVOLUTION, RELIGIOUS EFFECTS OF.
Early Friendly Attitude of the Church (§1). Influence of Financial Considerations (§ 2). Reconstitution of Church and Clergy (§ 3). Clerical Opposition Causes Persecution (§4 ). More Extreme Anticlerical Measures (§ 5). Movement Becomes Antireligious (§ 6). Rationalistic Cults Introduced (§ 7). The Turn in Affairs (§ 8). The Coming of Napoleon (§ 9).
The violent commotion which, toward the end of the eighteenth century, shattered the vital structure of the French state was directed i. Early primarily against medieval feudalism. Friendly But, inasmuch as this was closely re- Attitude lated to the Roman Catholic Church, of the the element of destruction of necessity Church, reached the Church. From this it was an easy step to the attack upon religion in general. Distrust of the positive teaching of the Church and the frivolity which was hampered by
French Revolution
THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
the moral philosophy of the day combined to arouse the suspicion that the clergy clung to their prerogatives, social organization, and possessions not because of their conviction of the essential Tightness of these things, but simply from a desire for power. As financial stringency had given the first impulse to the revolution, so later it seemed just and natural to make use of the wealth of the Church to save the State from bankruptcy. But from the beginning the political status of the clergy was a matter of consideration. It was commonly expected that they as a body would side with the nobility; but while the nobility maintained their purpose to contend for their ascendancy in the assembly, on June 22, 17,89, 148 of the 308 clerical delegates sided with the third estate, and on June 24, 151 others joined in the movement under the leadership of Talleyrand. The abolition of tithes aroused little opposition; already the clergy had offered their possessions for the national good; and the proposal to use the church vessels for public relief had been agreed to, while the offer of 140 million francs was accepted by the assembly Sept. 29. But the advancing revolutionary spirit was no longer satisfied with a friendly attitude on the part of the Church; it would satisfy its hate by appropriating all the Church's possessions. It is therefore noteworthy that a high dignitary of the Church, Talleyrand, bishop of Autun, recognizing that the especial prerogatives of the Church could no longer be preserved, lent his aid to the expression of the general feeling. He proposed, Oct. 10, 17S9, that a third of the ecclesiastical revenue (fifty millions of francs) be applied to cover the deficit in the accounts of the State, justifying the proposal by the fact that the clergy were not owners of the Church property, but merely in possession of a usufruct, while the State had power over every institution within its jurisdiction. Talleyrand, Mirabeau, and Abbe Gregoire carried their point against the opposition of Sieyes and the Abbes Maury, Montesquieu, and others, by a vote of 586 to 346. A resolution passed reciting that all ecclesiastical property was at the disposal of the State on the condition that the latter defray the expenses of public worship and provide for the support of the Church's officers and for the maintenance of the poor. Two days later this was ratified by the king while in confinement. Yet the clergy, so far from receiving sympathy, were the recipients of ridicule and insults from the populace.
New plans against the clergy came continually to the front, personal attacks were made upon the church dignitaries, while the monas- 2. Influ- teries were especial objects of assault. ence of On Feb. 11, 1790, Treilhard proposed Financial for the second time the abolition of Consider- monasteries and of monastic vows. ations. After many debates the resolution passed on Feb. 13, 1790, dissolving all orders and congregations of both sexes with the exception of those devoted to the instruction of children and to the care of the sick. Monastics might leave their cloisters on notifying the local authorities; monks who were unwilling to leave were assigned houses for their use. Great numbers seized the freedom offered and became most enthusiastic
in their devotion to the revolution. Nuns were allowed to remain where they were, and few left their orders. Pensions were granted to those who entered civil life, depending in amount upon the condition of the monastery, the rule of the order and the age of the individuals. The clergy had hoped that the resolution to sell the property of the Church would be a dead letter, but the lack of gold and the growing deficit made this measure an immediate eventuality. The archbishop of Aix proposed a loan of 400 millions of francs, guaranteed by the property of the clergy, who would pay the interest and then gradually the principal through the proceedings from sales. But the majority would not accept this plan, not recognizing the position of the clergy which could warrant the offering of such a sum. Meanwhile, Dom Gerles, a member of the clerical committee, Urged that, in order to satisfy those who feared for the existence of religion, the Roman Catholic religion be regarded as that of the nation, and that its services alone be regarded as authorized by the State. After considerable debate the assembly decided not to entertain the proposal, since it was neither willing nor able to enter decrees upon matters of religion (Apr. 13, 1790). The Paris chapter, the members of the Right, and the cities of Nimes, Nantes, and Rennes complained against this decision and defended the Roman Catholic religion. The assembly determined to assume administration of the clerical estates under the directors of departments and districts, 400 millions to be paid therefor and the money to be given to the clergy.
Behind the financial gain which the people thought to make on this occasion lay the main purpose, the dissolution of a detested yet 3. Recon- powerful aristocratic body. The clergy stitution of was regarded as the corner-stone of the Church and feudal system, the demolition of which Clergy, was the goal of the whole political movement. Several other moves followed the completion of the change in the status of the clergy. The number of bishoprics was reduced from 134 to 83. The bishop became the immediate pastor of the community in which he lived, and instead of the former chapter had a number of vicars who formed his council and gave him advice in all matters. The bishops were chosen by the same bodies as named the members of the departmental assemblies, and were forbidden to seek papal confirmation. The choice of the pastor was left to the active citizens of each district, but he was inducted into his post by the bishop. Bishops and pastors took the oath of allegiance to the nation, the law, the king, and the constitution. These changes, concluded May 31, followed a severe struggle led on the part of the clergy by the archbishop of Aix and the Jansenist theologian Camus. The civil constitution of the clergy was finished July 12, the salaries being fixed as follows: the archbishop of Paris, 50,000 livres; the other bishops, 20,000; the vicars, 2,000 to 6,000; and the pastors, 1,200 to 4,000, with dwelling and garden. The king, being urged to sign this constitution, found himself in difficulties, and wrote the pope for advice. The latter could no better solve the problem, called a meeting of car-