The Paris correspondent of the Times records in Wed- nesday's
paper the severe censure which has been passed by the Pope on the well-known Abbe Lemire, a Republican Deputy in the French Chamber. A speech which the Abbe made on November 4th in the Chamber is the pretext of the denunciation, though many things that he has said before, both inside and outside the Chamber, have been more strongly worded. Perhaps the " worst " statement made by this sincere priest and Deputy was on January 15th, when he declared that Roman Catholicism could co-exist with the Republic, and that the Bishops of France had the same rights and duties as those of other countries. It was their duty, for instance, to discuss plans even though the first of their plans under the Separation Act had been rejected by the Pope. In the end, he prophesied, they would survive their troubles by the help of liberty and the common law, and they would reconcile science and religion. The Abbe's latest and more moderate speech was reported to Rome by the Coadjutor Bishop of Carnbrai ; and Cardinal Merry del Val in his answer described it as an " irreverent and iniquitous accusa- tion" against the work of the Pope. Can the Roman Catholic liberalising priests in France continue to perform their office under such strictures ? And if not, one wonders how soon they will be forced to a secession.
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