The French Bishops, as the result of their Conference, have
made a proposal of the greatest importance, which may be the foundation of a settlement of the whole difficulty. Beginning by asserting their complete agreement with and loyalty to the Vatican, they declare that they will consent to try an organisation of public worship under certain conditions. They have sketched a draft contract between the parish priests on the one hand, and the local municipal authority on the other, and subject to the ratification of the Bishop, which provides for the full legal use of a church for eighteen years, and the devolution of such right to successive incumbents. The Mayor undertakes to refrain from any interference with the actions of the incumbent, unless the preservation of public order demands it. The Bishops add that the contract must be made universal through France, in order that the organisation of the Church may not be dependent upon the arbitrary will of Magistrates. Unless accepted everywhere, they will accept it nowhere. This latter demand, as we have argued, may cause difficulties, but the proposal is a noteworthy one, and contains the hope, at any rate, of a settlement.
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