Law of 7 July 1904

[1] Under Combes, who described his policies as a "secular campaign," the effort to curb the Catholic Church's influence in education reached its peak.

Article 5: By judgment of the tribunal in the jurisdiction of the mother house, upon the request of the public prosecutor, the liquidator—appointed immediately after the promulgation of the law—shall inventory the assets of the congregations, which may not be rented or leased without his consent.

[4] The law applied to all levels of education—primary, secondary, and higher—and all types of schools, including professional, agricultural, and artistic institutions.

[9] However, specific forms of education within hospital-type institutions—such as training apprentices or teaching orphans and students with disabilities—remained permissible.

[9] Additionally, an amendment by Georges Leygues allowed congregations to continue operating overseas if they contributed to France's international influence.