SECTARIANISM IN POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14238, 29 December 1911, Page 10

SECTARIANISM IN POLITICS.

TO THE EDITOIi OF "THE PIIESS." Sir, —It would not perhaps bo worth whilo continuing tho discussion regarding the interference- of a particular Church in the recent election, notably on tho secona ballot, woro it not for tho bombastic letter from Patrick F. X. Ryan in your issue of to-day. To thoso .of us who took an active part in tho electiou, and having personal friends among tho Catholics, the facts of tho case aro --veil known. I may therefore say at once, in spite of the denials of his Lordship Bishop Grimes'and Patrick F. X. Ryan, that members of their Church admit that their votes were influenced, and that many of them voted against their conscience, that is, against their politics and their porsonal feelings regarding tho candidates. What was a still more important matter, I think, is' that they had to act disloyally towards friends with whom they had been working and sympathising. Of course on© cannot blame them, for had they not dono what they did they would" have only had one other alternative, and that is have acted disloyally to tlieir Church, for, under the circumstances, refraining from voting would not have saved them from this. Not only aro Catholics openly admitting and regretting what they had to do, but some have gone so far as to onenly blame Sir Josenh AVard and Bishop Grimes for the position they were placed in. Denials from bishops and priests will thoreforo not set aside these facts. Of courso ono can quite understand that tho Roman Catholic Church wants to put a good face on matters now that the party it supported has lost its hold of tho electors. It would never do to let it bo known that it is in opposition to tho party that may be in~power. Political favours that have been so liberally bestowed upon members of tho' Church during tlio last twenty-one years might not bo continued. But no matter how the heads of the Roman Catholic. Church may endeavour to mislead the public, tlio members of that Church aro not freo arjents in politics when the interests of tho Church and its friends aro at stako, and it is apparent from j tho cable message in ton-lav's papers j that the Pope does not intend that they 1 shall be free agents in politics in j land. Thank goodness, the majority of us are in no fear of excommunication. —Yours, etc., CHRISTCHURCH NORTH.