Chapter 1342: The Papal Review Committee Arrives in Paris
The following midday.
In the dining room of the Petit Trianon, Queen Mary set down her napkin and looked at her son across the table, remarking casually, "My dear, I hear the Tax Bureau has proposed collecting the tithe themselves."
Joseph swallowed his nut pastry and nodded. "That's correct, Mother."
Queen Mary smiled faintly. "Well, I don't mean to interfere with your decisions, but I'm curious how you plan to handle this matter?"
Joseph glanced at the court officials and servants around them, who immediately bowed and withdrew.
Only then did he address his mother. "I was the one who asked Mr. Robespierre to propose the bill. Frankly, it's high time the tithe was collected by the government."
Queen Mary nodded, not attempting to dissuade him directly. Over the years, countless experiences had taught her that when her views diverged from her son's, it was best to trust his judgment.
She hesitated for a moment, took a small sip of wine, but couldn't help saying, "But this will greatly weaken the Church's support for the monarchy. You know, for centuries, the Church and the King have always been the closest allies."
"They once were," Joseph declared solemnly. "Especially in the unenlightened ages, the King was God's representative on Earth, that 'no authority came but from God,' and everyone believed this implicitly.
"Yes, many among the lower classes still adhere to the Church's teachings, especially those who haven't had an education.
But please believe me, it won't be long before they start seriously asking priests, 'Is all of this true?' or 'Why does God favor the King?'
"And what will happen then? When the Church stammers, unable to answer these questions, especially when the nation falls into crisis, people will retaliate doubly for the past deceptions—perhaps even with the King's blood."
Queen Mary immediately recalled the tragic King Charles I, who had sought to rely on the Catholic Church, yet still had his head severed by rioters.
Joseph continued, "You know, the nobility today, and all educated and capable people, they believe in calculus and the conservation of energy, that Earth is merely a speck of dust in the universe, in financial curves, in steel and gunpowder!
"In their eyes, the Church is gradually becoming a thief, profiting without effort.
"Yes, we could strictly forbid the spread of Enlightenment thought, even prevent most people from attending school. Then the Church's influence might endure for a few more decades, but that would lead to our rapid defeat in the competition with other nations.
"Before people even begin to question the Church, other great powers will use advanced technology and powerful productivity to turn France into a feast on their tables!"
Queen Mary sighed, remaining silent.
Joseph rose and walked to her side, his voice softening. "You needn't worry. Our reliance will be on the support of the populace, which is far more stable and reliable than relying on the Church as an intermediary.
"The future belongs to technological advancement and the flow of capital, not the prayers of priests. The foundation of the future is more and more factories, not luxurious monasteries."
Noticing his mother's somewhat melancholic expression, he quickly reassured her, "Of course, this doesn't mean we will cease to devoutly serve God. On the contrary, once priests are freed from worldly affairs, God will only shower more grace upon France.
"People will become more devout, and the Lord's gospel will spread ever wider—"
Queen Mary nodded gently, made the sign of the cross, and rose to embrace her son. "I believe you must be right. May God forever bless France."
As Joseph left the Petit Trianon, he felt an immense sense of relief.
Having 'closed the gap' with his devout Catholic mother, his Church reform plans would face no further obstacles.
He returned to his private chambers and immediately and formally summoned Archbishop Brienne and Count Segur, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He instructed them to immediately draft a strongly worded diplomatic note protesting the Roman Curia's 'unauthorized' dispatch of a review committee to France.
However, three days later, as Brienne and Segur, under the keen eyes of numerous Church dignitaries, brought the diplomatic note for the Crown Prince's signature, they were informed that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had departed yesterday for Baden to inspect the construction of the Kehl Railway Bridge. A construction accident had reportedly occurred on the bridge, killing hundreds, though fortunately, the vast majority were Russian prisoners of war. However, as it concerned a vital link between France and South Germany, the Crown Prince attached great importance to the matter.
Brienne had no choice but to personally take the document and travel by train to pursue the Crown Prince.
Perhaps he had been unlucky recently, for on the afternoon of his departure, he contracted a severe cold, reportedly with a fever of 39 degrees Celsius. Thus, his journey was delayed.
Indeed, Joseph had actually granted him a week's leave, instructing him to stay home and do nothing.
Just as Archbishop Tours and others were planning to visit Archbishop Brienne, the first contingent of review officials dispatched by the Papal Review Committee arrived in Paris.
Since these individuals carried an edict personally signed by the Pope, even with all their dissatisfaction, the French Church hierarchy could only hold their noses and receive them.
Immediately after, these review officials began to overstep their bounds and actually began to conduct assessments of French clergy. The first list for assessment comprised 52 individuals, including one archbishop and four priests.
Archbishop Boulogne, who had been notified to attend the assessment, haughtily 'skipped the exam' and refused to take a make-up.
Just three days later, the review committee issued a Papal disciplinary decree, signed by the Pope himself!
The clergy of Paris were instantly shocked.
They had initially believed the Holy See's so-called 'punishment' was mere talk, intended only to display its authority through the assessments, never expecting actual disciplinary action to be taken!
It was crucial to remember that although the Roman Curia only held nominal jurisdiction over the French Church, even nominal authority could be devastating. After all, the ecclesiastical standing, holy orders, and even theological writings of all clergy required validation from the Roman Curia to be legitimate.
Once a Papal disciplinary decree was incurred, it essentially amounted to a declaration of 'political death' for that individual within the religious community. Any respectable holy office would be out of the question in the future, and they would be ridiculed everywhere.
Archbishop Boulogne hurriedly confessed his error to the review officials and privately offered a bribe. Only then did he manage to secure a chance for a make-up assessment, and the committee temporarily retracted the disciplinary decree.
Meanwhile, the Parisian Church hierarchy frantically implored Archbishop Brienne to send someone else to deliver the diplomatic note to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. They argued that with a single command from the Crown Prince, the Paris Police could immediately expel those abominable Papal review officials from Paris, and the Pope would surely not dare to voice any objections.
However, Archbishop Brienne, a man of immense responsibility, declared from his sickbed that he couldn't trust anyone else with such an important matter. Then, despite his fever-ridden body, he ordered his attendants to prepare a carriage.
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