CATHOLICS AND PHOHSBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 17226, 16 December 1919, Page 6

CATHOLICS AND PHOHSBITION.

[Published btc Ahbakgemext.]

THE LATEST FRCMVI HIGH GATHOUC AUTHORITIES IN GAM ADA. The following is from Mr Ghas. Todd, of Duneddn, and contains some extracts from a letter received by him on Saturday from JUDGE LaFONTAINE, of Montreal, Professor at Lava.l University, Dean Law Faculty, member Board of Administration, chairman Prohibition Committee of Canada, and co-founder Anti-alcoholic League of Montreal:—• " I have followed with great interest "the Prohibition movement in New "Zealand. As a temperance man, hav"ing been identified •with the movement "in Quebec, I will bo permitted to say " that it is not presumption on my part " to assume that I can speak with cer"tainty on this subject. Besides being a " Roman Catholic, and of the "Superior Court in Montreal, I am "chairman of the Catholic School Board "of Montreal. As to the views of the "Roman Catholic Church in Quebec, "and the position taken by bishops and " priests, they lire all strong temuerance "men, have generally in every locality "taken the initiative of the movement " for temperance Prohibition, and "been the leaders. History -will tell "that the movement against intoxicat- " ing liquors was started some 12 years " ago by His Grace Archbishop Bruchesi "in Montreal, and by His Grace Arch-, "bishop, now Cardinal. Begin in Que- " bee, and the same thing may be said "of their colleagues in the whole pro- " vince.

" I am sending herewith extracts and "copies of letters, wishing you success "in your good and great enterprise." FROM HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL, BEGIN, ARCHBISHOP OF QUEBEC: " Who will venture to assert that in " our region of Quebec the weightiest "reasons do not fight to-day in favor of "Prohibition? Who will deny, more- " over, that public opinion demands it " with greater and greater determina- " tion? " FROM A PASTORAL LETTER OF THE BISHOP OF SHERBROOKE: "The Great Cause of Temperance. It "is- my express will that you shall put "yourself at the head of this movement "in your parishee. Wishing the bene- " diction of God on you and all those " who with you will work generously to "bring triumph to the cause of Pxo"hibiton." FROM HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF MONTREALj " Worthy men, aided and assisted by "your devoted priests, have taken in " hand to clear out of your parish the " trade of alcohol by bringing into force " the above-mentioned law of Prohibi- " tion. We aTe amdous to tell them that "they have our lieaTt-ielb support." BSuuABATION BY ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS AT THE PLENARY COUNCIL, QUEBEC ! " The Church is therefore not yielding "to imaginary feara when she appeals "to hea children, organises a vigorous "campaign against one of the worst " enemies of religion and of out native " lan-d, in that she remains faithful to "her ofiioa War to the knife with •" Alcoholism."