more political than doctrinal. In February 1906 the government began to make inventories of ecclesiastical property in order "to prevent any theft of antiques". This provoked riots in Paris, Lille, and some country districts by disgruntled French Catholics. People barricaded themselves in churches. According to Mary McAuliffe, people rang church bells to sound the alarm, and armed themselves with sticks and pitchforks. She notes that in the Pyrenees, the Basques brought their bears. Opposition to the reforms was supported by the monarchists. References External links The English text of Vehementer Nos Papal encyclicals History of Catholicism in France Religion and politics Documents of Pope Pius X 1906 documents 1906 in Christianity February 1906 events