CHOICE OF CARDINAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 2

CHOICE OF CARDINAL

MINISTER’S CRITICISM UNPOPULAR STATEMENT (0.C.) SYDNEY, Dec. 31. Australia’s Minister for Information and Immigration, Mr Arthur Calwell, dismayed even his closest adherents by his criticism of Archbishop Gilroy 's appointment as Roman Catholic cardinal in preference to Melbourne’s 82-year-old Archbishop Mannix. Not only did ho introduce politics into his church, but he introduced —or revealed -sectarianism in Australian politics, something that Labour and Liberals alike had been avoiding' for years and particularly avoided in an election year. By his statement Mr Calwell antagonised and offended many of his own faith, some of them high and influential-church dignitaries. He also branded himself as “ dangerous,’’ rather than fearless, to members of his own party who may have been tempted to follow his militant lead in politics. Archbishop Duhig, of Queensland, replied to Mr Calwell in what might be regarded as an official church statement, and Mr Justice Brennan, of the Supreme Court, in the same State, gave the Roman Catholic layman’s view. The press reply to Mr Calwell came from the Western Australian official Roman Catholic journal, the Record. Thus Mr Calwell was made to appear at variance, not only w’ith the views of New South Wales Roman Catholics, but with followers of that faith throughout Australia. The Record stated: “It’ is pertinent to ask whether the appointment of a cardinal is a political issue involving the Australian Government, or purely a domestic question within the church. If it is the latter, then Mr Calwell, in addition to his highly offensive personal attacks, is guilty also of impertinence and insularity. Jealousy existing between Sydney and Melbourne is proverbial, but it will be a sorry day for the church if that rivalry is allowed to enter seriously into ecclesiastical affairs. As the Holy Father said in his world broadcast on Christmas Eve, ‘ In troubled times like these the Church must more than ever remain above national feelings.’ How much more so must she remain above interstate bickerings? But it was not the church or ■churchmen who commenced the present dissension, but a politician who is supposed to be representing the national interest.” The Record’s reference to interstate jealousy as the reason for Mr Calwell’s outburst hit at the recognised difference of opinion between self-styled Irish-Catholics in Melbourne and socalled Roman (or international) Catholics in Sydney on church matters.