
In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.
Adolf Daens

Charles Woeste

Nette Scholliers

Jan De Meeter

Jefke
Bisschop Stillemans

Pieter Daens
Louise Daens
Schmitt

Elizabeth Borremans

Eugene Borremans

Ponnet

Marie
Monsignor Goossens
Burgemeester Van Wambeke

Van Langenhove (Liberaal)

Nuncio
Wannes Scholliers

Julia

Clarice
Nini
Commission Member

Commission Member

Gendarmerie Officer

Commission Member

Commission Member

Man beside Nini's Corpse

Lisette
Gang Member
Gang Member

Gang Member
Gang Member

Gang Member

Woman giving out Soup

Woman giving out Soup