“AUSTRALIA IN POWER & CHAINS OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22665, 16 June 1948, Page 5

“AUSTRALIA IN POWER & CHAINS OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM”

PROTESTANT LEADER SAYS:

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter —Coryrlgnt.) (10 a.m,) LONDON, June 15. Mi’. P. W. Petter, president of the National Union of Protestants, told the annual meeting that Australia had under 20 per cent Roman Catholics in its population. ‘' But it is under the power and in the chains of Roman Catholicism,” he added.

Mr. Petter, who has just returned from a tour of Australia, said the Roman Catholics had control in hundreds of Australian townships. They were in the majority in the Federal Parliament and in local governments and public services, and were in control in the national life and industries of Australia.

“Men have little expectation of promotion in any of these services If they open their mouths in testimony against Roman Catholicism," he said. 1 Consequently the whole country is held in chains "

Mr. Petter accused the Catholics of being a political organisation rather than a religion. He asseriea that the Vatican controlled British foreign policy and was now "actively engaged in trying to sever Australia from the British Empire.”

Mr. Petter asked why did Mr. de Valera go to Australia and seek the help of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Mr. Petter claimed that Mr. de Valera went to secure the assistance of their powerful organisation in securing the inclusion of Northern Ireland in Eire and" to “tell the Australian heirarchy of the means which he used” to secure the separation of Southern Ireland from the United Kingdom. Mr. Petter added: “Nobody knows what Mr. de Valera is. I think he is a Jesuit and the Pope’s envoy.” Mr Petter said 100 per cent of the staff in the Austalian High Commissioner’s office in London were Roman Catholics and they were controlling emigration. “People who are not Roman Catholics have little chance of emigrating to Australia," Mr. Petter said. He was having a question asked in the House of Commons about how many people who emigrated to Australia were Roman Catholics.