A Hope.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1902, Page 24

A Hope.

In spße of so much that looks dark in the prospects of the Church in Franco, thero is just a possibility that her position may be improved The magistrftturo is showing itself

disinclined to impose penalties onj clergymen for merely governmental offences. They insist on strict interpretations of the Concordat, and refuse to forbid any priest to exercise the functions of his sacred calling at! tho request of the Public Prosecutor. Th(us, at Troves, at Moulins, at Sarlat, and at Rheims, Jesuits accused under the Law of Associations havo been declared innocent of any wrongdoing for saying Mass and preaching ; these acts, the magisrtrates hold, were part of tiheir niglita as priests whoso existence in Franco is recognised by tho terms of the Concordat. So also at Chaiubery the Assumptiomsts, on appeal, were dc-» clared free from any legal fault. It) is penhaps too much to hope thatJ tho French roagistrature, a highminded body of jurists, numbering amongst its members many men of sternly religious views, will be ablq to resist the pressure which tho) Government will bring to bear upon! it. Should it decline to convict all may bo well ; but the influence exerted on the legal tribunals by thej executivo of Continental Cabinets gives us little reason to hope that M. Comibes will fail to find means to carry out his persecuting programme against the Orders.