HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE.

DEMONSTRATION AT BELFAST. MR. BONAR LAW TO SPEAK. By Tolejrrrvh—Press Association—CopjtleM London, January 11. Mr. Bonar Lair, llio Unionist loader, will address an anli-Homo Rulo demonstration at Belfast on April 3, including a march-past similar to that when Mr. Balfour took part in the demonstration of 1892. There were 2000 policemen in (lie vicinity of Ulster Hall during Mr. Churchill's visit. The garrison was confined to barracks. FISCAL ASPECT. VIEWS OF A FEDERALIST. (Rec. January 12, 11.5 pjn.) London, January 12. Mr. J. Robertson, M.P., speaking at the National Liberal Clnb, said he was a Home Ruler, but a Federalist. If Ireland was given fiscal autonomy, the Federal system would bo impossible, because there was no saying what the Tariffites would do with a clear field. THE PAPAL DECREF.. IS IT APPLICABLE TO IRELAND? London, January 11. The "Methodist Times" states that tho Government must obtain a satisfactory declaration from the Papacy whether tho recent I'apal decree, prohibiting Roman Catholics from suing tho clergy in Stato Courts, is applicable to Ireland. It is impossible, tho paper says, to accept Archbishop Walsh's statement as the final word. LAY TRIBUNALS AND ECCLESIASTICS. The following appeared recently in tho "Catholic Times" (London):—Of lato years in various parts of Europe, particularly in Franco, the law of the Church forbidding ecclesiastics to bo brought before lay tribunals without permission being obtained from the proper authorities has been so often set at naught that (he Holy Father decided wmo timo ago to Tcmovc all doubt as to the extent to-which tho regulation binds. Like most Jaws, this one has suffered from the quibbling of lawyers. Honco Pius X has issued a Motu l'roprio concorning the enactment. The following is a translation of the document ever great the care one uses in framing laws, it frequently happens that one cannot adequately guard against all room for doubt; the existence of which appears later on from tho subtle interpretation that is given to them. Sometimes tho opinions of lawyers who undertake to interpret the nature and forcc of a law are so much at variance that what is really intended by tho law can lie made clear only b,v an authentic declaration. This we see is what happened alter the promulgation of the Constitution 'Apostolicae Sedis,' by which the censures 'latao sentontiao' wero restricted. Among those who have written commentaries on this Constitution a great controversy has arisen about the seventh chapter," tho point being whether by the word 'ccgenles' only legislators and public persons were meant, or whether it "included also private individuals who require of a lay Judge, by citation or the institution of an action, to bring a cleric before his tribunal. Tho real effect of this chapter has been again and again declared by tho Congregation of the Holy Office. But now in these evil days when ecclesiastical immunities receive no consideration, and not only priests and clerics, but eveu Bishops and Cardinal? of the ndy Roman Church, aro cited before tribunals, this condition; of things absolutely demands that We should restrain by severe penalty those who cannot bo otherwise deterred from the commission of so heinous a . crime against the religious character. Therefore, by this Motu Proprio Wo determine and ordain that any private person, lay or cleric, man or woman, who, without first obtaining the permission of the ecclesiastical authorities, cites to a lay tribunal and compels to appear there publicly any ecclesiastical person, either in a criminal or civil case, shall incur excommunication 'latae sentential,' specially reserved to the Roman Pontiff. This by these letters is decided, and Wo wish it .to stand ratified, everything to the contrary notwithstanding. Given at St. Peter's, Rome, t.he ninth day of October, 1911, the ninth vear of (jur Pontificate. PIUS PP. X." SCOPE OF THE DECREE. Dublin correspondent of "The Times" recently stated that transgression of the decree involved the ecntenco of excommunication, as already pronounced, and added that absolution from excommunication was specially reserved to tho Pope. The decree similarly penalised those enacting laws or decrees against the liberty and rights of the Churc-b. Thus, every member of Parliament legislating and every Executive officer promulgating such laws caine within tho scope of the decree. Tho Nationalists already realised the possibilities of tlio decree, as an instrument in the battle against Homo u i C, < Times" correspondent added that 'for the second timo within a few years tho Church has dealt the cause of soparation a hoavy blow." • STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP KELLY, Archbishop Kelly, of Sydney, recently stated (as reported in tho Sydney "Daily Telograph") "Regarding your query on Vatican legislation, tho clergy, and Homo Rule, I should advise tho public to await tho text of the law in question. It will bo found, I trust, to be rational, regular, and salutary, worthy of tho distinguished commission to which the revision of the canon law has been entrusted. Tho decree in substance will uphold tho traditions and liberties of the Gospel, rocognised throughout tho Church since Paul forbade .the early Christians to cite ono another before heathen tribunals. Even Blackstone, steeped in tho spirit of an. anti-Catholic regime, allows that tho privilege of the clergy was wisely establislied by both the canon and the common law. 'Tho Times' correspondence from Ireland is proverbially anti-Cntholio 5,™ anti-Papal and anti-Irish. The lato Chief Justice of England (Lord Russell), as advocate for Parnell against tho libellous publications of 'The Times' supplied by. a correspondent in high official place, said something to this effect. No measure used to be considered as good c mJ , ess it; had tllc opposition of Tho lunes. Personally, I consider Ihe rimes eapeoially as untrustworthy in questions affecting the Papacy, Catholicity, or Irish nationality. Yet, somehow, doubtless providentially, truth conies to prevalence and good causes to success.