Conflict with the Catholic Church Notes

Conflict with the Catholic Church

Key Dates in the Change for the Catholic Church in France

  • 5-11 August 1789: August Decrees
    • Abolishment of tithes.
  • 2 November 1789: Nationalisation of church land (biens nationaux), previously used for revenue.
  • 13 February 1790: Monastic vows forbidden; all religious orders and congregations dissolved except those teaching children or ministering to the sick.
  • 19 April 1790: All other church property nationalised; state responsible for clerical salaries.

Key Elements of the Reform of the Catholic Church in France

  • Abolition of the Pope's right to appoint clergy; replaced by a popular election system (civil matter).
  • Abolishment of all titles except for bishop and vicar (priest).
  • Dioceses aligned with the borders of départements.
  • Each diocese to have a single seminary for priest training.
  • Reduction of bishops from 130 to 83; each diocese overseen by one bishop and parish clergy (vicars).

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy

  • The National Constituent Assembly (NCA) aimed to reform the Gallican Church without attacking religion itself.
  • Reduction of dioceses to match the number of newly formed departments in France (83).
  • Each diocese allowed only one bishop, elected by the people; bishops banned from overseeing multiple dioceses.
  • Limitations on titles in the church to two: bishop and vicar.

Problems with the Civil Constitution of the Clergy

  • Shifted authority from the Pope to the state; challenged the Pope's control in appointing/removing priests and bishops.
  • Article 19 prohibited bishops from seeking the Pope's confirmation on appointments; bishops became civil officials rather than religious ones.

Opposition to the Civil Constitution

  • 30 May 1790: Archbishop of Aix urged that the Church's mission derived from apostles, not from civil authorities (magistrates/king).
  • Highlighted growing divide between clergy supporting reform and traditionalists; initiated a crisis affecting the foundations of the Catholic Church.

The Clerical Oath

  • 27 November 1790: NCA mandated a Clerical Oath requiring priests to pledge loyalty to the nation and the law.
  • Penalties for noncompliance included removal from office, loss of salary, and citizenship.
  • The Oath deepened divides between loyal Catholics and revolutionary forces; caused rifts within the clergy and society.

The Pope’s Response: The Papal Bull Charitas

  • Pope Pius addressed NCA actions, emphasizing loyalty to the true faith.
  • Advised Catholics to reject relations with non-compliant clergy; clarified that loyalty to the Church was paramount over revolutionary allegiance.

Refractory and Non-Refractory Clergy

  • Refractory priests: Did not take the Oath, also known as ‘non-juring’ clergy.
  • Non-refractory clergy: Group that took the Oath (only 1/3 of the clergy did).
  • Tensions in cities and the countryside over enforcement of the Oath; many preferred traditional Church practices.

Historical Interpretations

  • Historians agree that the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and the Clerical Oath caused a fracture within France's revolutionary consensus.
  • Important tasks include documenting the views of historians (François Furet, William Doyle, J.F. Bosher, Alfred Cobban), analyzing the impacts by the end of 1790, and predicting the Revolution's course post-1790 based on these interpretations.