Monseigneur Jean-Olivier Briand - Ancestryfreepages.rootsweb.com/~unclefred/genealogy/Scan_Doc0003.pdf · the permanence of the episcopacy. He asked that two bishops serve the Diocese

the permanence of theepiscopacy. He askedthat two bishops serve theDiocese simultaneously,so that the survivor, Romepermitting, might consecratehis own successor. TheTest Oath was modified soas to be acceptable to theHoly See, and the passageof the Quebec Act in 1774admitted Catholics to publicfunctions and confirmed thefreedom of religion, and thatof the Habeas Corpus Act,which granted Catholicsthe rights and privilegesof British subjects, duein large part to Briand'sefforts. Monseigneur Jean-Olivier Briand

The following year, hoping to encourage thepeople of Quebec to join in the war of revolution,General Washington launches two expeditionaryforces toward the province. Brigadier GeneralRichard Montgomery travels north via LakeChamplain, while Colonel Benedict Arnold comesthrough the back-country of Maine. At the endof October 1775, when the Continental Armyencamped at the mouth of the Chaudiere, preparingto invade the capital, Briand issued a pastoral letterin which he enjoined fidelity to the Crown. A zealousdefender of English authority, Briand exercised thefull power of his office to discourage dissention,forbidding the administration of the sacramentsto those who sided with the "Bostonnais", andrefused to recant their error. "Not only must younot marry them", he wrote to the priests of hisdiocese, "but you must not even publish bannsof marriage, unless they have promised beforewitnesses, which you will put on record, that thesubject expresses regret for his past conduct, andis ready to obey, all of which we charge you toreceive under oath, which shall be made touching

Londres, dans Ie but de proteqerles droits de I'Eglise Catholique,et d'assurer la successioncanonique de I'episcopat. IIdemande la nomination d'uneveque coadjuteur avec droit desuccession, pour eviter la vacanceeventuelle du siege episcopal. Leserment d'allegeance est moditiede fac;on it etre acceptable auSaint-Siege. La promulgationen 1774 de I'Acte de Quebecconfirme la liberte de culteet admet les catholiques auxfonctions publiques, et de la loisur I'Habeas Corpus qui garantitaux catholiques les droits etprivileges de sujets de la couronneBritannique, sont dus en grandepart aux efforts de Briand.

L'annee suivante, dans Ie but d'attirer lesQuebecois dans la guerre de revolution, Ie generalWashington lance deux expeditions en direction dela Belle Province. Le general de brigade RichardMontgomery passe par Ie lac Champlain, tandis queIe colonel Benedict Arnold dirige ses troupes it traversl'arriere-pays du Maine. Vers la fin d'octobre 1775, lestroupes americeines s'installent a I'embouchure de laChaudiere, face it la ville de Quebec, et se prepatentit attaquer la capitale. C'est alors que MonseigneurBriand exerce Ie plein pouvoir de son office, etadresse aux cures de la province un document quileur defend d'adrninistrer les sacrements it qui que cesoit qui ose s'allier aux Bostonnais. «Non seulernentest-il defendu de les marier, mais meme de publierleurs bans de mariage, a moins qu'ils n'aient jure enpresence de temoins d'abjurer leur erreur, et promisd'obeir, ceci sous serment en touchant Ie crucifix ....Quant aux sacrements, il vous est defendu de lesadrninistrer, merne en danger de mort, ni aux hommesni aux femmes, sans faire une retractation publiqueet un acte de reparation du scandale; quant it ceuxqui meurent en obstination, il vous est detendu de les

4 MARS 2010