Now that the whole hierarchy of France, Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops-more than a hundred in number-have joined in addressing to the Holy Father a collective letter expressing their complete devotion and loyalty to the Holy See, and their full appreciation of the need for condemning what has been condemned in the Action Française, there should be no further rumours and insinuations to the effect that the Catholics of France were showing any reluctance in their submission to the Pope’s authority. One bishop after another has promulgated the decree of condemnation in his own diocese, and published a letter explaining the nature and necessity of the condemnation.

The main facts have been published in BLACKFRIARS and elsewhere at considerable length. But among the immense mass of documents from many sources which have been published in France in connection with the condemnation, two seem to call for special attention because of the light they throw upon particular points. One shows how strong was the demand for the condemnation of M. Maurras even before the War, when Pope Pius X actually did condemn the books which have now been publicly placed upon the Index. The other is a singularly impressive and vigorous retort to the accusations made in the Action Française suggesting that the Holy Father was misled by a conspiracy which aims at defeating the Nationalist forces in France.