THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22108, 14 May 1935, Page 13

THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

Sir, —May -we be permitted to correct any possible misunderstanding that may occur through the post-cable comments on the above question in Monday's Herald. Notwithstanding the purported decision of the National Directory, the fact still remains that constitutionally that body has no choice. The following extract from the decision of Mr. Justice Ostler (delivered on September 26, 1934) neatly summarises the position:—

I have already set out in full the powers of the National Directory, and it is obvious that it has no power either to prevent the secession 01 to refuse affiliation. The correspondence between the National Directory and the (New Zealand) District Executive shows that its officers clearly recognised that fact . , . . The District Executive, after putting every obstacle it could in the way of the movement and delaying the completion of the secession for over two years, finally bethought itself of this device to defeat the movement, and induced the National Directonr. to intimate that it would not grant affiliation, although the National Directory plainly indicated its opinion to the District Executive that it had no power to refuse.

My district strenuously maintains its power to exist and to function within the parent society as a distinct district. We are at a loss to understand the passage " although dissension had existed for some years before," as this is quite outside our knowledge. On the contrary, the setting up of a new district was effected solely to further the interests of the society in New Zealand, and such is still the objective. Insofar as the question of approbation of the hierarchy is concerned, it is abundantly clear from Document 13 of Roman Documents, issued on November 13, 1920, under the heading " Lay Associations or Societies not directly -subject to the Bishop " that "If "a number of Catholic laymen form a society for benevolence or charity, or for any other legitimate purpose, they are not subject to the ecclesiastical authorities," but naturally every Catholic as such is accountable to the church for conduct that is not in harmony with the Church's principles of faith and morality. We, of course, would be happy to have that approbation if it were forthcoming. For the executive, P. R. Fraxchi, D.P., Northern (N.Z.) District HibernianAustralasian Catholic Benefit Society.