A difficult end of year, 1897

The urgent message that Mother Marie Fidèle sent to Mgr. André-Albert Blais on March 26, 1903, was certainly justified. In fact, for some time, France was going through a crisis. Under all sorts of pretexts, the French government imposed new taxes, passed many laws aimed at eliminate religious congregations, especially those dedicated to the education of children.

In early October 1897, the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis are living through a painful and meaningful event: in accordance wiht the infamous Law of Abandonment, which "public opinion condemns and disapproves, the Trussac grassland, belonging to the Congregation, is seized.."
* A large piece of land, used in those days, as pasture and vegetable garden; today, a housing development in Vannes, intersected by Madame Molé Street, which includes the Lycée St. Paul.

L'ARVOR defends the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis,
along with
La Croix, Le Nouvelliste, Le Progrès du Morbihan

Excerpt from an article published on October 17, 1897, and kept
in the registers of the General Council.

L'ARVOR

(…) If, on behalf of right and justice, kindness could disarm passion, it seems
that the works of charity performed by the St. Louis Congregation
could have prevented such iniquity.

BRITTANY

Since its foundation, which dates back to almost a century, the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis have, in the various institutions they own, received, raised, cared for free nearly 5000 children, orphans for the most part; they have taught them how to live a virtuous life and has gifted them with a good training, which has enabled them to earn a living honorably. The duration of the stay of each orphan in the establishment varied from 6 to 12 years.

Years before Ferry* had invented compulsory schooling, the Sisters were teaching the children of the lower classes for free. Still now, in spite of the secularization, over a thousand children are being taught, always free of charge, in the different houses of the Institute.
*Jules Ferry Law, July 16, 1881, regarding free elementary education

In order to justify this law, it has been said, that it had became imperative to force the Congregations to defray the expenses of the State. Was it really true that until these laws of "Subscription and Increase", the Congregation was exempt from paying taxes like the other taxpayers? No! And those who asserted it know very well. Not only have the Congregations always paid and continue to pay the same taxes as us, but they have paid, for years, taxes that are not imposed on other citizens (…)
* Excessive taxes on personal property and real estate that hit particularly the Congregations

(…) in accordance with this tax, clothing, kitchen utensils, furniture for the sisters and orphans are supposed to bring back to the Congregation 5%. No one is exempt from taxation, the most obnoxious of all, is the bed in which they sleep, the clogs or shoes they wear, all should bring back 5% to the Congregation. In addition to this iniquitous tax 93F,60 for patent and 146 F for proportional right hit the orphans' workshop. (…)

A harsh reality :
a citizen pays a 100F tax, a religious, 187F

This law violates the constitutional principle of the equality of all citizens in the face of taxation. By refusing to pay* and by having to let go of their grassland, which is necessary to their survival since they live mainly on milk products and vegetables, the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis

= = =	defend by the only means in their power, the equality of all citizens which is threatened by arbitrary classifications; they defend the freedom of conscience threatened by fiscal exactions; they defend the property of goods honorably accumulated and honorably used against the rapacity of the State to whom the law itself had entrusted the care of ensuring its lasting conservation. (RCG)
* Civil disobedience : the Congregations's passive resistance to an unjust law.