France -- Civilization; France -- Politics and government; France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Parish and cathedral churches in its
hands are, for the most part, dead capital, nearly useless and almost
valueless; through their structure, they are not fitted for civil
offices; it does not know what to do with them except to make barns of
them; if it sells them it is to demolishers for their value as building
material, and then at great scandal. Among the parsonages and
gardens that have been surrendered, several have become communal
property,[31116] and, in this case, it is not the State which loses its
title but the commune which is deprived of its investment. In short, in
the matter of available real estate, land or buildings, from which the
State might derive a rent, that which it sets off from its domain and
hands over to the clergy is of very little account. As to military
service, it makes no greater concessions. Neither the Concordat nor
the organic articles stipulate any exemption for the clergy; the
dispensation granted is simply a favor; this is provisional for the
seminarians and only becomes permanent under ordination; now, the
government fixes the number of the ordained, and it keeps this down as
much as possible;[31117] for the diocese of Grenoble, it allows only
eight in seven years.[31118] In this way, it not only saves conscripts,
but again, for lack of young priests, it forces the bishops to appoint
old priests, even constitutionalists, nearly all pensioners on the
treasury, and which either relieves the treasury of a pension or
the commune of a subsidy.[31119]--Thus, in the reconstruction of the
ecclesiastical fortune the State spares itself and the portion it
contributes remains very small: it furnishes scarcely more than
the plan, a few corner and foundation stones and the permission
or injunction to build; the rest concerns the communes and private
individuals. They must exert themselves, continue and complete it, by
order or spontaneously and under its permanent direction.
VIII. Public Education.
State appropriations very small.--Toleration of educational
institutions.--The interest of the public in them invited.
--The University.--Its monopoly.--Practically, his
restrictions and conditions are effective.--Satisfaction
given to the first group of requirements.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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