THE BISHOP AND THE NEW LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8162, 25 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BISHOP AND THE NEW LEAGUE.

■■♦■ - The Roman Catholic Bishop of Limerick writes to the Freeman's Journal :— " The unintelligible way in which you refer to my name in your leading article to-day suggests to me that perhaps it may lessen your surprise at the attendance of the clergy of this district at the convention yesterday, to bo informed that I had previously received an explicit assurance from the conveners of ib that they would abstain from any contravention of the Papal Decree against boycotting and the ' Plan of Campaign,' and it was only on the faith of that assurance that they were allowed to attend." The Freeman publishes the correspondence which passed between the Bishop and Mr. Redmond, M.P., chairman of the convention. The Bishop's secretary asks whether there will be any open or covert advocacy of the "Plan of Campaign," as it is only on this express condition that ho can allow tho clergy to attend. Mr. Redmond replies, enclosing a copy of the constitution of tho Tenants' League Defence Association, and saying it will be his duty as chairman to secure that the proceeding.! are conducted in accordance with it. The Bishop's secretary, writing regretting that no explicit assurance is given, remarks that the " Plan of Campaign has been condemmed as sinful, andsayshe is mostanxiousthabtheclergy should be allowed to join the association, and ho will give them permission, if ho receives a telegram containing the one word " Yes." Mr. Redmond then telegraphed that it would be practically impossible to prevent such references in speeches, though they might be afterwards construed as inconsistent with due submission to the teaching of authority. The Bishop's secretary telegraphs :—'' Thanks for your telegram, which is entirely satisfactory." The Freeman fails to see in this correspondence any such explicit assurance as the Bishop refers to, and is amazed at the terms of His Lordship's letter.