It would appear that the present Pope intends to exert
his spiritual prerogatives to their full extent. In spite of the protest of the French Government, the Bishops of Laval and Dijon have been ordered to present themselves in Rome to explain their conduct, under penalty of excommunication. In a Latin letter addressed by Cardinal Merry del Val to one "in the front rank of French Catholics," the Papal Secretary of State declares that, whatever the consequences, the Pope is determined to exercise in France and elsewhere his full spiritual power, and, in particular, that of " restricting or suppressing the spiritual powers which the Bishops hold from the Holy See alone." No measure will be taken, while the Concordat exists, affecting the emoluments or titles of the Bishops; but as regards their spiritual functions the Holy Father will act alone in the plenitude of his -prerogative. This is the language of Hildebrand, and we suppose it is justified by the history of the Church ; but an indirect deposition of this kind is clearly contrary to the spirit, as well as the words, of the Concordat, and M. Col-111)es, even if reluctant, will be com- pelled to act with vigour. For the moment no chance of compromise is visible, at least to Protestant eyes; but a diocese can dispense with a Bishop for a long time. Candi- dates for Orders simply go elsewhere.
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