| An associations law stipulated that no congregation could be formed without a law defining its scope and activity, and all congregations lacking authorization were to be dissolved. When Waldeck-Rousseau resigned in the wake of such measures, his successor, Émile Combes, proceeded to close some 3,000 unauthorized schools pending their receiving authorization. He prepared 54 bills refusing authorization to as many male congregations (passed, March 1903). All teaching by congregations was forbidden, and such congregations were to be suppressed within ten years (July 7, 1904). | 1 |
