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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

- Add (Moniteur, XIX.,
697) the decree providing for the confiscation of the possessions of
ecclesiastics "who have voluntarily left or been so reported, who are
retired as old or inform, or who have preferred transportation to
retirement." - Ibid., XVIII., 492, (session of Frimaire 2). A speech
by Forester. "As to the priesthood, its continuation has become a
disgrace and even a crime." - Archives Nationales, AF. II., 36. (An
order by Lequinio, representative of the people of Charante-Inf?rieur,
la Vend?e and Deux-S?vres, Saintes, Nivose 1, year II.) "In order that
freedom of worship may exist in full plenitude it is forbidden to all
whom it may concern to preach or write in favor of any form of worship
or religious opinion whatsoever." And especially "it is expressly
forbidden to any former minister, belonging to any religious sect
whatever, to preach, write or teach morality under penalty of being
regarded as a suspect and, as such, immediately put under arrest. .
. . Every man who undertakes to preach any religious precepts
whatsoever is, by that fact, culpable before the people. He violates
. . . social equality, which does not permit the individual to
publicly raise his ideal pretensions above those of his neighbor.


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