Purge in France

In the days of Vichyfrance, many a loyal Frenchman clenched his fist against

hose of the Catholic clergy who actively collaborated with the Nazis and urged their flocks to do likewise. The tightest-clenched fists were those of pro-Ally Catholics themselves. Among the prelates suspected:

-" Msgr. Henri Dutoit, Bishop of Arras. In 1941 a German D.N.B. dispatch quoted him as writing in a pastoral letter: "Collaboration is no slavery. ... He who collaborates should not be denied placing his own genius and his own resources at the disposal of the joint effort to enhance the value of this collaboration." Last fall, Bishop Dutoit was seized and sent to an internment camp. It was the first official action, after the liberation, against one of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. P: Msgr. Francois Auvity, Bishop of Mende. He recently apologized in a pastoral letter for having advised French youths to accept forced labor in Germany.

The position of the Vatican on collaborationist clergymen was not clearly defined. Official feeling was embodied in an age-old, unwritten law of the Church that its prelates, like Caesar's wife, must be above suspicion. The law is, in effect: any prelate whose personal conduct, past or present, gives rise to discussion or dissension which might reflect unfavorably on the Church must feel duty-bound--guilty or not--to renounce his dignity to prevent adverse discussion of the Church.

Bishop Dutoit and Auvity evidently felt duty-bound to resign from their dioceses. Last week, Pipe Pius XII accepted both resignations. Many in religious circles saw in the action the beginnings of a long-awaited "purge" of collaborationist clergymen. The New York Times predicted : "About 20 prelates are expected to be affected by [it]."

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