CLERGY AND WAR

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 49, 26 February 1917, Page 2

CLERGY AND WAR

POSITION OF CATHOLTC CHURCH

ANOTHER ADDRESS BY ARCH

BISHOP O'SHEA.

A further address on the subject of the clergy and . compulsory, military r service was given by Archbishop O'Shea, at the Sacred Heart Church, Hill-street, last night, in the presence of a crowded congregation. He wanted to make it perfectly clear, he said, that what he had already said about the subject had the endorsement of Archbishop Redwood. Archbishop O'Shea went on to repudiate the "unworthy insinuations made in certain quarters during the past week that the Catholics were asking for special or preferential treatment for their clergy." They were-asking for nothing of the kind. They believed that it would be in the bpst interests of the Dominion and a powerful help towards 'winning the war to exempt the clergy of all denominations from military ■service*-* When the Military Service Bill was mooted, leading members of the Government were approached by the Archbishop and other bishops, and asked what would be the position of the "clergy under the measure. The Qpvepiment urged them not to endanger the passage of the Bill by asking for the exemption of anybody. The Government assured the Archbishop and other bishops that means would be provided by the Government to have the clergy of all denominations exempted. ''Leave it to the Government and all would be well." Being, patriotic men, and not wishing to hamper the Government in" any way, the bishops were content. Then the Act came into operation. -The Acting-Prime Minister said he had agreed to exempt clergy of all denominations when requested by their bishpps and superiors. That was to apply to their theological students when they had reached that 'stage that they could not retire. That was in December, before the first ballot wag drawn. ,

Now he felt—and he'said it with great sorrow—that sectarian bigots had got to work, with the result that the week before last the Military Service Board in Wellington refused to exempt two theological students on whose behalf the Minister of Munitions had issued a certificate ; and the Acting-Prime ■•Minister said a few days afterwards in Dune-din that the boards were not compelled to take any notice of the Minister's certificate, and quoted *h.e action of the Wellington Board. " Now, I leave you to draw ypijr own conclusions from this simple statement of fact," said his Grace. "If this is not religious persecution I do not know what is."

Catholics, his Grace continued, were just as patriotic and loyal as any other section of the community; they had proved it. From the very outbreak of the war our Catholic young men had voluntarily enlisted in great numbers. The Catholics were doing'their full share to prpvide chaplains for tohem, -and they were likely tone called upon to do even more. But those left behind needed the consolations of religipn, and the spiritual ministrations which only the priests cpukl give them. Were, they to be deprived of tfyat consolation? Surely the senses of justice and fair-mindedness of the community would not tolerate any s\ich thing. "We will use every means in our power to prevent it, and will go to the final Board of Appeal, but we appeal more than all to" the Christian sentiment and fairness of a British community not to persist in a policy that we look upon as useless persecution—a policy that; we will resent to the end." '. ' FORMAT/ PROTEST.

The congregation then resolved itself into a .meeting of the Thoradon branch of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, and the following motion, was moved by Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, seconded by Mr. B. P. Flanagan, and. carried unanimously:— •

"That this brarvcH of the New Zealand Catholic Federatipn protests against the Catholic clergy and religious being compelled to serve under the Military Service Act*on the following grounds': —

1. That sup'tl compulsion of clergy and religious is abhorrent to the niinds of Catholics, and without precedent in the English-speaking countries. 2. That the religious ministrations and educational work of all such olergy and rel(ginu,s are absojutely necessary within the Dominion; and that this meeting earnestly hopDS and trusts that the authorities will take immediate; steps to have all such persons exempted from military Bervic*.

3. That this meeting fully supports the action taken by Archbishop O'Sheti in this matter, and assu.js the hierarchy of New Zealand of its earnest assistance in any further action they think''advisable J and that copies of this resolution be sent So the Acting Prime Minister, and to thts' local member of Parliament."

Similar resolutions were passed at meetings of the Federation, at other city and suburban churches. ' ?