ROTARY MOVEMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 March 1929, Page 5

ROTARY MOVEMENT.

KOMAN CATHOLIC OPPOSITION. CLERICAL EDITOR ANNOYED. (United Press Association—By Eleciui iei.g.ai '. Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, March 19. The “New York Sun's” Rome, correspondent says that the Roman Catholic opposition to the Rotary movement has not been modified by Mr Sutton's visit to Rome. Mr Sutton is president of Rotary in America. This correspondent was so informed to-day by Father Rosa, editor of the “Civilita Cattolica.” • Father Rosa is especially annoyed by the articles saying that Mr Sutton’s visit had averted the Vatican order for Roman Catholic laymen to withdraw from the Rotary movement, as clergy were previously advised against membership. Father Rosa, in an interview with a correspondent, indicated his willingness to publish rectifications of his charges if investigations substantiated Mr Sutton’s claim. He made it. clear to- the correspondent to-day that the publication of the retraction which Mr Sutton forecasted for March 15 had not appeared, and the publication might be a long time coming. Ho said: “I am much annoyed by the excessive climax made in the Press by Mr Sutton, who had agreed to say nothing publicly of the conversations he had with me or with the cardinal or other Vatican personalities. Because of this behaviour of Mr Sutton, the ‘Civilita Cattolica' deems it wise to publish nothing for the present. This does not exclude our recognition of the goad faith of Roman Catholics belonging to Rotary. If we publish Mr Sutton’s statement of Rotary principles, it will be at a moment we consider opportune and not when he announces it.

“Nothing,” he said- “is more absurd than the Press allegation that Air Sutton averted the order for the laity to leave Rotary. Had the Vatican thought such a step* desirable it would have decreed it regardless of Air Sutotn’s actions or counsels. To sum up, the Roman Catholic position towards Rotary is unchanged.” Air Sutton, of America, the president of Rotary, visited Rome after an announcement that the Pope disapproved of Roman Catholics joining the. movement. On his return, Air Sutton stated that the Vatican’s objections had been withdrawn.