THE bitterness and confusion left in the minds of the Europeans in Algiers after the unsuccessful insurrection came out in many Catholic churches on Sunday during the reading of a pastoral letter from Archbishop Duval of A Igiers.
Some people left the churches altogether and others for the duration of the reading. Chairs were banged and scraped to the rhythm of Alggrie Francaise or loud coughing interrupted the voice of the priest
THE POPE
Archbishop Duval appealed for brotherly love among the different racial communities and warned that "false prophets are among you". He went on to say that those who had been willing to use any sort of means indiscriminately in the recent tragic events had been only a feeble minority and that on the whole the faithful of his diocese had persevered in their Christian duty.
Some days before the Archbishop had received a telegram from the Holy Father. It appears that some priests declined to read either the pastoral letter or the Papal message in church on Sunday. Sonic are believed to have been threatened with death if they did so.
The Holy Father's message referred to Archbishop Duval's constantly prudent and efficient pastoral activity, aimed always at peace Pope John went on to say that as in the past he would always give consent, encouragement and support for this line of action.
The demonstrations in church were not entirely spontaneous. After the Pope's telegram had been received, Archbishop Duval let it be known that he would be issuing his pastoral and referring in it to the events of last week.
Activist organisations thereupon distributed leaflets, protesting against the intrusion of religion into politics and called for a boycott of Mass, says the "Times " correspondent. Many Europeans were telephoned with instructions to this effect on Sunday morning.
The insurrection has left the European community in Algeria perplexed by divided loyalties and in the forces and the civil service there are wide cleavages setting friend against friend.