Decree against the refractory priests

The Décret against the refractory priests of the November 29th 1791 is a Décret of the legislative Parliament aiming at the members of the clergy who refused to lend oath to the civil Constitution of the clergy.

This decree stipulated that any citizen must give his fidelity to the law. The deputies of the legislative Parliament judged that the refractory priests could be only the factious ones and that by worsening the decrees of the constituent Assembly one would drive back Louis XVI of France to take an extreme party.

The legislative Parliament thus voted a bearing decree that any refractory priest could not call upon the capital duties; that it would consequently be treated in suspect and subjected to a particular monitoring; and that moreover it would lose its treatment.

Louis XVI opposed his veto to this decree, which will be hardened and re-emitted one year later. He made in the same way on another text concerning the creation of an army of 20.000 men to the orders of the Parliament, which precipitated the fall of monarchy.

Text

The oath, purely civic, is the guarantee which any citizen must give of his fidelity with the law - if the minister of a Culte refuses to recognize the law (which ensures the religious liberty without another condition that the respect for the law and order), it even announces by the refusal as its intention is not to respect the law.

" the civic oath will be required within eight jours.
Those which will refuse will be held suspect of revolt and recommended to the monitoring of the autorités.
S' they are in a commune where it occurs of the religious disorders, the directory of the department will be able to move away them from their residence ordinaire.
S' they disobey, they will be imprisoned for one year at the maximum; if they cause with disobedience, for two years.
La Common where the armed force will be obliged to intervene, will support the frais.
Les churches of them will be used only for the paid worship of the State; those which will not be there necessary could be bought for another worship, but not for those which refuse the serment.
the municipalities will send to the departments, and those with the Parliament, the list of the priests which swore and those which refused the oath, with observations on their coalition between them and with the emigrants, so that the Parliament warns with the means of extirpating the rebellion.
L' Assemblée looks at as a benefit the good works which can inform the campaigns on the religious alleged questions: it will make them print, and will reward the authors. "

See too

civil Constitution of the clergy

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