Religion and the French Constitution of 1791

The privileged classes in France meant the First and Second Estates, the Clergy and the nobility. Theoretically, all the clergy were privileged. The Church had been part of the feudal system; her bishops, abbots, members of cathedral chapters, and university professors often ranked among the feudal lords. The dominating will of Richelieu had brought territorial possessions directly under the royal sway, but many feudal rights were still retained by the feudal lords. The Clergy were exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary civil courts. They were exempt from direct taxes - all, from the taille and, with the exception of the Clergy of new Prance, from the poll and the income tax. The exemption from the poll and income taxes was rather an exoneration than an exemption, since the Clergy had made themselves free by a large gift early in the eighteenth century, and again every ten years, at the exaction of the royal commissioner, they voted a subsidy to the state, under the name of gratuitous gift. The Church also had the privilege of honor and the privilege of exclusive public worship. As far back as Merovingian times, the ecclesiastical order had been preeminent, and in the rare assemblies of the Estates General, the Clergy had held the first rank. This primacy was sanctioned by royal edict in 1695. Ten years before, by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Louis XIV. proclaimed that the state acknowledged the public exercise of her worship alone.

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

1929

Author dc:creator

• Harter, Alfrida Josephine R.S.C.J.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kaufmann, Alfred S.J.

• France--History

Statement dc:rights

• A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

http://dspace2-test.creighton.edu:8080/xmlui/handle/10504/91269

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/91269