Religion: For Tolerance

France's Roman Catholic Church last week spoke forcefully for French reconciliation and tolerance. A declaration from the French hierarchy proclaimed:

"The Church will respect the autonomy of the State in the exercise of its functions and will abstain from intervention in the political field. But the State must avoid all forces, visible or occult, seeking to serve coalitions of individual interests. . . .

"Let us cease exaggerated or unjust accusations against our brethren. . . . Let there be no arbitrary arrests by individuals without a mandate, no internment prolonged for months without indication of the true motive—in our prisons there should be no violence and no excessive suffering. . . . Among a free people expression of an opinion should not be a crime. . . ."