PETITE-ÉGLISE. — The name designates the anti-Concordat schism of 1801 in France and Belgium. On 18 August 1801, Pope Pius VII, in execution of art. 3 of the Concordat, demanded the resignation of all the former bishops of France; 46 resigned, most of them reluctantly and with protests, but 38, of whom only 2 had been appointed, addressed canonical appeals to the Pope (6 April 1803), though ones filled with great respect (
V. Mémoire des évêques français, Traduction, Lyons 1898, published by the P
E.).These appeals were approved by certain priests and faithful in various parts of France and Belgium; the dissenters took different names according to the dioceses: Basniéristes at Coutances, Enfarinés at Rodez, Clémentins at Rouen, Blanchardistes at Bayeux, Purs at Montpellier, Stévénistes at Namur, P.-E. at Lyons. The last name prevailed. The dissenting bishops submitted in part, at the time of the Restoration, in 1815. Others died without having submitted. The two most obstinate were Alessandro de Themines, former bishop of Blois, called “the venerable” by his followers, and Giovanni de Coucy, former bishop of La Rochelle. The last bishop died in 1829, the last priest in 1847. After the death of their bishops and priests, the heads of families assumed the direction of the schism, which still continues, although on a very reduced scale. Two delegates of the P.-E. of Lyons, J. Berliet and M. Duc, went to the Vatican Council to plead their cause, but the Council was interrupted before it had examined their memorials. Leo XIII, asked for a response, wrote to them on 19 July 1893: while acknowledging their moral virtues, he invited them to return to the fold of Christ. After the Concordat was abolished, the archbishop of Lyons invited them once again, since there was no longer any reason for schism. They did not respond to this appeal, which was repeated several times and most recently by Cardinal Gerlier (20 February 1949).
They affirm: we are Catholics, we baptize and instruct our children in the Catholic faith; if we have neither the Mass nor any other Sacrament besides Baptism, the fault is not ours; we are victims of our fidelity for the good of the Catholic Church; we await the hour of providence, which will demonstrate that we are right; the Pope has never directly condemned us; having us,
