OCR Text |
Show ARCHBISHOP OF ROUEN ON SOCIAL ACTION OF PRIESTS IN FRANCE In a recent pastoral letter. Mgr. Fuzet, archbishop arch-bishop of Rouen, France, addresses his clergy on the. needs of their co-operating with works of socia1 help. After an introductory word of regret for the. passing of the Concordat, he points out that Providence Prov-idence never erases anything in the book of life of a people simply to write the same thing again. Hi-3 view is that the evolutionary course of a separatist regime will compel an adjustment between the two powers concerned, which will assure their respective respec-tive rights, for religion holds too great a place i'u the social life of the people for the public powers to persist in ignoring it. The hour of such adjustment adjust-ment will be hastened by the clergy entering loyally and generously into social work. So will peace be restored between democracy and the church. Hitherto Hith-erto the clergy had lived onthe edge of society, cut off and protected on the field of the Concordat. If in future they were to hold their own they must enter zealously into the -service of the material and moral needs of the nation. Wtih this view they must study the legislation dealing with the subject, so as to render their work opportune and effective, and the result would be a growing influence, and a new church of France closely linked with the lives of the people. ' |