Life of Being a Crown Prince in France - Chapter 1477 - 1383: Great Achievements
Chapter 1477: Chapter 1383: Great Achievements
As Eman closed the door to the reception room, Archbishop Beaumont immediately put on a flattering expression and said:
“Your Highness, as I mentioned, the ’Devout French Priest Group’ is only inciting trouble among the people. If this continues, the daily operations of the Church will be affected.”
He glanced at the Crown Prince’s expression and coughed lightly.
Beside him, Shate’er Archbishop hurriedly added, “Your Highness, especially Father Grenier, who always publicly attacks us. I respectfully ask you to persuade him to stop this behavior…”
Joseph smiled and nodded: “You are right. I even think that the ’Devout French Priest Group’ no longer has any reason to exist.”
Beaumont and the others were overjoyed; it seems the initial advice from Archbishop Brienne to use ’allowing the redemption of Church lands’ to block the Reform Party’s proposals was indeed a brilliant move!
Joseph suddenly changed the subject: “However, due to the recent incident with Dean Ruiye, Father Grenier suggested to me that the Priest Group supervise the financial situation of the Church.”
Ruiye is the vice dean of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Joseph originally planned to wait for Robespierre to slowly uncover the Church’s tax loopholes before starting to regulate church property, but unexpectedly, Soleil brought a generous gift—Ruiye’s secret account book.
This meant the plan could be initiated ahead of schedule.
Archbishop Beaumont tensed up and quickly swore: “Your Highness, Grenier and his people are just coveting the Church’s management authority.
“I swear by Jesus, I will thoroughly investigate the embezzlement of church assets and give you a satisfactory response!”
Joseph thought for a moment and waved his hand:
“Let’s establish a ’Church Asset Management Committee’. In the future, any use of church assets must be approved by this committee.
“Oh, of course, the committee members are decided by internal church elections.
“This way, Father Grenier and his group will have nothing to say.”
Hmm, you see how thoughtful the Crown Prince is for the Church.
“After that, I’ll announce the dissolution of the Devout French Priest Group.”
The archbishops looked at each other, feeling that there seemed to be nothing wrong, resolving the major hidden threat posed by the Reform Party was the most important.
Hence, Beaumont took the lead in bowing, saying: “Following your will, esteemed Crown Prince.”
How could they have known that the Crown Prince’s phrase “decided by internal church elections” meant a general election involving all lower-level priests.
Moreover, any use of church assets would require the approval of 90% of the committee members.
Anyone who has been involved in large-scale voting knows that this approval rate is unattainable.
In other words, the church assets would henceforth be effectively locked in the Industrial Development Fund.
Beaumont and others were satisfied as they managed to get rid of the reform party created by the Crown Prince, just as they were about to rise and take leave, they heard the Crown Prince say:
“Oh, there’s one more thing. I find Father Grenier’s proposal for the Ministry of Finance to pay the priests’ salaries to be very beneficial.”
Archbishop Beaumont was immediately worried: “Your Highness, the internal matters of the Church are very complex; if the Ministry of Finance interferes, it will surely be a mess…”
Joseph raised his hand, interrupting him, turning instead to say: “I’m planning to promote the formation of two houses.
“Currently, there are uncertainties regarding the Church’s seats in the Senate and the qualifications for clergy to participate in House of Representatives elections.”
Beaumont was immediately intrigued.
He had long heard of the Crown Prince’s intention to form a Congress, now the rumors are confirmed.
The two houses will inevitably be the administrative center of France; the Church must secure a seat in both houses!
He cautiously suggested: “Your Highness, the Church has always provided ministers to the Royal Family, and will continue to serve in the Senate for the Royal Family.”
Joseph nodded: “I plan to reserve 10 of the 80 Senate seats for the Church.”
His gaze swept across those present: “You, Shate’er Archbishop, and Archbishop of Tours will all serve as the first senators.”
The archbishops were all overjoyed.
The Crown Prince is granting them the qualification to enter the center of power in France!
If one can become an official, who would still want to be a religious zealot?
Look at Brienne and Talleyrand, what a glorious position they now hold, and soon they too will have a similar status!
In fact, the Senate inevitably had to provide a position for the Church, an influential organization.
Moreover, given France’s political conventions, once church members enter the administrative system, they will generally follow the Royal Family’s lead.
Joseph now intended to use what is supposed to be given to the Church, to exchange for the conditions he wanted.
Before Beaumont and others could respond, seeming somewhat distracted, he returned to the previous topic: “You see, the Ministry of Finance handling the priests’ salaries has several advantages. First, it can be issued alongside civil servants, using the same process, with efficiency…”
Beaumont and the others exchanged glances again, nodding slightly.
Soon they will enter the Senate with honor, and their families will also thrive.
For this, sacrificing a bit of the Church’s interests was not something they couldn’t accept.
They could completely pacify internal dissatisfaction by pointing out the ability for clergy to run for parliamentary seats.
After the archbishops expressed loyalty again and took their leave, Joseph also sighed with relief.
Through a series of maneuvers, he finally completed the basic reform of the Church without causing social upheaval.
Nowadays, the Church will no longer possess immense wealth.
And having priests’ salaries paid by the government would quickly bureaucratize them, ultimately transforming them into “community administrators.”
Upon this, all remnants from the old era hindering French development were eradicated.
He spent more than a decade avoiding the bloody turmoil of the historical French Revolution while achieving the revolutionary changes the revolution brought.
Although preserving many nobles and clergy, these individuals will gradually integrate into the national industrialization process, their identities becoming ambiguous, ultimately becoming citizens of a new era.
Hmm, of course, the most important thing is that his efforts allowed him and his parents and family to all survive well.
In the days ahead, they could play together, laugh together, care for each other, and support each other.
Witnessing France, under his guidance, ascend to the peak of Europe, until the last moment of life, still able to smile while looking into each other’s eyes.
“Your Highness, dinner time is approaching.”
Alexandra’s voice came from outside.
Joseph took a deep breath, smiled, and walked toward the door.
Hmm, he still had many things to accomplish, such as leaving his children an unmatched France!
Three days later, Father Grenier received orders to go to Zweibrücken in the Rhineland to serve as a priest. He will accumulate four or five years of experience there and then become an archbishop of a diocese.
