SECTARIANISM IN POLITICS.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 64, 13 September 1900, Page 4

SECTARIANISM IN POLITICS.

♦ On Tuesday last at the Catholic Congress in Sydney a paper was read suggesting political organisation for increasing the effectiveness of the Roman -atholic vote. The paper provoked keen criticism, the discussion evidently turning upon the advisability of forming political organisations of a religious character. In modern times when the ballot-box reigns supreme, there is a tendency to call into existence a political party or group for tho furtherance of any and overy conceivable object. In the Old Country recent- ritualistic disputes have led to throats of political organisations, and it' is nob surprising, therefore, that colonial Catholics should follow suit and try to gain their ends by similar means. Although the suggestion is, in the circumstances, natural enough, it doej not follow that its adoption would bo wise on the part of tho Roman Catholics or beneficial to tho community at large. In these colonies there has been a general understanding that religious questions are, as far aa possible, to be kept out of the political arena. Tho results of this understanding have been decidedly gobd, and our politician's have played their part on the Parliamentary stage without fear of raising religious l-ancour. If there were such a thing as a Catholic Party this could no longer be. In self-defence the Protestants would be obliged to band together, and we should have" in our public life a new cross-division that oould not but have, disastrous effects upon Iho body politic. We do not believe that tho colonial Catholics would be ready to face the consequences of tho proposed organisation, but tho fact that it has been suggested is significant, and calls for the serious attention of all who wish to save the Slat© from ecclesiastical domination and Parliament from being the convincing ground for hostile creeds.