The Regency in Spain has at last declared open war
upon the priests. S. Zorilla, Minister of Grace and Justice, has issued a circular to the Bishops, in which he tells them pretty distinctly that they are civil servants of the State, and shall obey its orders. They are to report instantly the names of any priests who have joined the Carlists in the field ; to punish all rebel priests ; to issue a pastoral exhorting all priests to submit themselves to the laws, and to cancel the confessional licences of all priests who are opposed to the constitutional regime. Nothing is said of the pelialties if they disobey,. and it seems clear that S. Zorilla, hard hitter as be is when things ecclesiastical are concerned, does not know bow to deal with priests, In ordering the Bishops to inhibit clergymen for offences of opinion he has stepped beyond his province, and made the Bishops martyrs for opinion ; while in issuing an order without penalties, he has risked a, passive resistance more formidable than opposition. He should have stopped the Bishops' salaries until they had done the things he wants. The way to coerce priests, when coercion is resolved on, is to give them profound. respect, but no pay till they obey orders.
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