France -- Civilization; France -- Politics and government; France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
The bishop in his diocese.--Change of situation and rôle.
--Depreciation of other local authorities.--Diminution of
other ecclesiastical authorities.--Decline of the chapter
and the jurisdiction.--The bishop alone dispenses rigors and
favors.--Use of displacement.--Second-class clergy subject
to military discipline.--Why it submits to this.
The change brought about in the condition and role of the bishop was
not less grave. Along with the court noblesse and great ecclesiastical
property, we see the prelate of the old régime disappearing by degrees,
the younger son of a noble family, promoted by favor and very young,
endowed with a large income and much more a man of the world than of
the Church. In 1789, out of 134 bishops or archbishops, only 5 were of
plebeian origin; in 1889, out of 90 bishops or archbishops there are
only 4 of them nobles;[5221] previous to the Revolution, the titular of
an Episcopal see enjoyed, on the average, a revenue of 100,000 francs;
at the present day, he receives only a salary of from 10,000 to 15,000
francs.[5222] In place of the grand seignior, an amiable and magnificent
host, given to display and to entertaining the best company, keeping
an open table in his diocese when he happens to be there, but generally
absent, an habitué of Paris or a courtier at Versailles, we see another
stepping forward to take his seat He is bearing the same title, is
a personage whose habits and origins are different, a resident
administrator, much less ornamental but much more active and governing,
provided with a more ample jurisdiction, with more absolute authority
and wielding more effective influence. The final effect of the
Revolution in relation to the bishop is the same as in relation to the
Pope, and in the French diocese, as in the universal Church, the modern
régime sets up a central, extraordinary, enormous power of which the
ancient regime knew nothing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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