The General Council declares this law “prejudicial to the interests of the department”. Mayor Auguste Gaudin claims ownership of religious heritage in front of an inspector of Domains manhandled by the faithful
The law of December 9, 1905 which promulgates the Separation of Churches and State, thus succeeding the Concordat of 1801, de facto establishes a secular State in France. Capital date putting an end to the union between the Catholic Church and the political power represented formerly by a monarch of divine right, the law of 1905 causes discontent and agitation in the Corsican society kneaded by centuries of Christianity, aggravating the open divide between republicans and Bonapartists.
Opposition to the Separation Bill was already manifested in the General Council of Corsica, which, in its session of May 10, 1905, stated that ” the religious budget be maintained and that no follow-up be given to the bill on the separation of churches and state which, both in its text and in its spirit, would, if it became law, seriously undermine the religious feelings and material interests of the department ».
The rapporteur, Sébastien de Caraffa, relying on the fact that the majority of general councils on the Continent have spoken out against this law of separation, considers ” that it would be detrimental to the interests of the Department of Corsica “. His argument is primarily economic, because he considers “ that the suppression of the budget of the Cults which would be the forced consequence, would decrease to a large extent, the already very weak resources of our island “. In addition, the maintenance of priests and ministers would be an additional burden for poor rural communities, so that ” the planned separation would be for Corsica a cause of ruin that nothing could avert ».
However, the wish of Sébastien de Caraffa will be set aside on the grounds that under the law of August 10, 1871, “ political vows are prohibited in general councils “. But the chosen one does not give up so far, taking an active part in the ” rebellion Against the inventory of church objects. On January 26, 1906 in Bastia, S. de Caraffa joined, in his capacity as president of the Factory Council, the bronca of priests of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church who were firmly awaiting the Inspector of Domains who had come to inventory the heritage. liturgical. Around him are the mayor Auguste Gaudin, the parish priest, and a group of priests and vicars. Shouting at the ” spoliation “And” sacrilege “, The parish priest of Saint-Jean protests against the attack” to its property rights over movable property », Declaring that he would not cooperate in any way. The mayor of Bastia claims ownership of the paintings from the Fesch legacy, distributed among the various churches in the city, arguing that ” the city considers itself the owner of the churches, presbyteries and outbuildings, and reserves the right to assert its title deeds “. As manager of Church property, Sébastien de Caraffa gives the official of the Domains an official written protest. But the faithful, very hostile to the law of 1905, made themselves heard. Grouped in front of Saint-Jean, they wait for the inspector at the exit, then follow him, screaming and threatening. In order to calm the spirits, the administration of the Domains immediately suspends the inventory operations.
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Two Corsican deputies vote against, Senator E. Arène abstains
A similar scene takes place two days later in front of the Sainte-Marie cathedral. The Inspector of Domains is prevented in his mission by the first assistant Tito de Caraffa claiming ownership of the church, the two presbyteries, as well as that of the paintings bequeathed to the city by Cardinal Fesch. Once again, an official protest is given to the representative of the Domains, while a group of faithful invaded the sacristy and refused to leave it. The official suspended the inventory even before having started it and fled under the cries of: ” Down with thieves, down with sectarians! Death to the government of Combes! »
Thus, the application of the law of 1905 establishing the principle of secularism in Corsica met with a virulent opposition generating disorder. Now, in Bastia, it is the secular power, which, through the General Council and the municipality, comes to the aid of the Church. « The inventories provided for by the law of separation of the Churches and the State of 1905 come up against a sometimes armed resistance. The operation was not completed until May 1906, and could not be carried out in certain villages. » (1)
After the expulsion of the Jesuit fathers from Bastia in 1880, the faithful felt persecuted by republican law, especially since religious establishments such as the Sisters of Saint Joseph had to close their doors. The anticlerical policy of Emile Combes is relayed in Corsica by committees and lodges: “ The League of Human and Citizen Rights was established in 1902, Free Thought in 1903; the Freemason lodges were founded in 1901 in Bastia (Etoile de Cyrnos) and in 1903 in Ajaccio (The Emancipation of Ajaccio); the Secular Youth spread to the island and spread their newspaper, The Idea (1902-1904). (2) The indignant resistance of many priests, supported by their faithful, sowed unrest in cities and the countryside throughout 1906. The Catholic community finds support in a petition collecting 14,000 signatures, which will be filed to the National Assembly by Antoine Gavini. But in the end, Corsican MPs are faced with a Cornelian choice at the time of the vote, between political options and religious beliefs. « In the final vote in the Chamber of Deputies, on December 9, 1905, the representatives of Corsica voted against (Antoine Gavini, Ange Gaëtan Astima) or abstained (Thadée Gabrielli, Joseph Chaleil). Only the radical-socialist Dominique Forcioli, “the Mohammedan” voted for. In the Senate, Arthur Ranc and Marius Giacobbi also voted in favor, while Emmanuel Arène abstained. »(3) Insensibly, the republicanization of Corsican society is underway, having started with the law of 1882 establishing secular primary education, free and compulsory under the leadership of Jules Ferry.
(1) JM Arrighi and O Jehasse. History of Corsica and the Corsicans. Perrin. (2 and 3) Michel Casta. History of Corsica. Revolutions today. Editions Piazzola.
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