CATHOLIC FEDERATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 11, 11 January 1913, Page 5

CATHOLIC FEDERATION.

According to the ‘Catholic Press’ the organisation in New South Wales of the Australian Catholic Federation will engage the attention of the Roman Catholic laity early this year, and it is expected that in a few months the roll will be an impressive one. The paper refers to the wailt of unity in the past as being seriously felt, and proceeds:—“Although w© can claim one-fourth of the electors of Australia, politicians rarely can be brought to recognise our rightful claims, whilst on the other hand We are from time to time subjected to insults and indignities by malicious and thoughtless people, who under no circumstances would dream of attacking any other section of the community. A necessity has arisen for selfdefence, and the Australian Catholic Federation is undoubtedly the best shield we can have. Embracing; as it will, the flower of Catholicity in every State, animated by courage and enthusiasm, counting its recruits by tens of thousands yearly, able to change the political face of the country, at its will, the time must come when the last religious firebrand will be hounded out of Parliament, when Orange bigotry will disappear from our civic life, when the sign, ‘No,-Catholic need apply,’ will disappear from the superior offices of the public service, and when Catholics will everywhere obtain that consideration and equal treatment to which their grit and education and high moral character ilnquestionably entitle them. Patient and uncomplaining, they have been imposed upon far too long, whilst the insistent ranter and the sly Mason have filched their citizen rights,”