argumate:

Joachim feels horror at the multiple infanticide, but he will not denounce it because of the intimate connections that link his and Benjamin’s families, who are neighbours. The killing of babies was certainly a criminal offence but at a time before contraception was available it was perhaps not that uncommon.

…

According to Boudon, the Abbé Lagier may not have been acting totally beyond his brief in asking women in the confessional about their sex lives.  In fact many priests at the time did this, on the religiously-sanctioned grounds that couples had to be discouraged from engaging in practices that would not result in the birth of a child.

…

In his hidden diary of wood, he addresses directly the unknown reader who he hopes will one day come across his traces: “Happy Mortal. When you read this, I shall be no more.” And elsewhere: “My story is short and sincere and frank, because none but you shall see my writing.”