p. 16 | Action and Reaction

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 24, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 12.

Action and Reaction

It is a fact that, as between Roman Catholics and Protestants in Europe, almost since the Reformation, the greatest activity in propagating doctrine and making proselytes, has been on the part of Catholics, and Rome has gained much ground that she seemingly lost in the Reformation. Recently, there has been a reaction against Catholicism in France, even among the priests. The Ultramontane Catholic journal, La Verite, thus comments upon it:—

“There always have been deplorable defections from the truth, but these were individual instances. At present, the evil is greater than ever before. We have not only individual cases to deplore, but a regular movement has in this case put in its appearance. Here and there in the ranks of the clergy there appears a party of schism. Our hitherto fixed and firm Catholic priesthood has been shaken, and in its ranks there has begun a movement toward Protestantism. Not only have six priests in recent months taken their places at the feet of the Protestant theological faculty in Paris, but four others have entered the Protestant seminary at Montaubon. This makes ten at once. Nor is this all. We may yet look for more of this kind.”

In this we rejoice if only the priests are converted to true Protestantism. We are glad because of the spirit of investigation which such defection evidences, is going on. The Independent, from which we take the above, tells us that the same paper “gives an account of eighteen young priests, who have lately entered the Protestant Church, and declares that others would follow this example for the purpose of finding in Protestantism the solution of their doubts and conscientious scruples, for which they could find no rest in the Roman Catholic Church.” If only the priests can find rest in French Protestantism? They can if they will look beyond, to the Word and Christ, and to God’s present Gospel message.