Charles Émile Freppel

Charles Émile Freppel (June 1, 1827 - December 12, 1891), French bishop and politician, was born at Obernai (Oberehnheim), Alsace.

He was ordained priest in 1849 and for a short time taught history at the seminary of Strasbourg, where he had previously received his clerical training. In 1854, he was appointed professor of theology at the Sorbonne, and became known as a successful preacher. He went to Rome in 1869, at the instance of Pius IX, to assist in the steps preparatory to the promulgation of the dogma of papal infallibility. He was consecrated bishop of Angers in 1870.

During the Franco-German war, Freppel organized a body of priests to minister to the French prisoners in Germany, and penned an eloquent protest to the emperor William I. against the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine. In 1880 he was elected deputy for Brest and continued to represent it until his death. Being the only priest in the Chamber of Deputies since the death of Dupanloup, he became the chief parliamentary champion of the Church, and, though no orator, was a frequent speaker.

On all ecclesiastical affairs Freppel voted with the Royalist and Catholic party, yet on questions in which French colonial prestige was involved, such as the expedition to Tunis, Tong-King, Madagascar (1881, 1883-85), he supported the government of the day. He always remained a staunch Royalist and went so far as to oppose Leo XIII's policy of conciliating the Republic. He died at Angers on the 12th of December 1891.

Freppel's historical and theological works form 30 vols, the best known of which are:
*"Les Pères apostoliques et leur époque" (1859)
*"Les Apologistes chrêtiens au 11' siècle" (2 vols, 1860)
*"Saint Iréne et l'éloquence chrêtienne dans la Gaule aux deux prèmiers siècles" (1861)
*"Tertullien" (2 vols, 1863)
*"Saint Cyprien et l'Eglise d'Afrique" (1864)
*"Clement d'Alexandrie" (1865)
*"Origène" (2 vols, 1867)There are interesting lives by E Cornut (Paris, 1893) and F Charpentier (Angers, 1904).

References

*1911
*"Catholiques entre monarchie et république: monsieur Freppel en son temps; 1792 - 1892 - 1992; actes du colloque national de l'Université Catholique de l'Ouest; Angers 23 - 25 septembre 1992". Publ. sous la responsabilité de Bernard Plongeron. Paris: Letouzey et Ané, 1995. ISBN 2-7063-0197-X

Persondata
NAME=Freppel, Charles-Émile
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Freppel, Charles-Emile
SHORT DESCRIPTION=French Roman-catholic bishop
DATE OF BIRTH=1 June 1827
PLACE OF BIRTH=Obernai
DATE OF DEATH=23 December 1891
PLACE OF DEATH=Angers