CATHOLICS AND PROHIBATION.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15043, 10 April 1919, Page 6

CATHOLICS AND PROHIBATION.

:■ •- o. ; ,; f 1 , '' In other .lands Catholics have , been Amongst the foremost -workers for-. Prohibition, and their influence has been a Vital factor in its accomplishment. ■■ Especially is this the case ill the Canadian province of Quebec, which has carried Prohibition "by a large majority,' and where over 85 per cent, of the.voters . are Catholics. Had their influence and that of the Hierarchy been against Prohibition this great reform would not have been achieved. Prohibition was not carried in Quebec until the leaders of the Church had watched its opera-1 tions in other provinces which had gone <dry in earlier years, and the clergy were confident that "ample supplies of sacramental wines would be available. ' How j convincing was the proof that Prohibition was a great success and achieved what was claimed for it is shown by the' fact that thirteen out of the fifteen Catholic bishops in Quebec are Prohi-1 bitionists, while the venerable and fe-1 verend Cardinal Begin, of the diocese of i Quebec was one of its most ardent sup-1 porters. I

Cardinal Merry del Val, writing to the international Federation-of the Catholic Ahfci-saloon League on April .23rd," 1914;' •said: ' .•■■• . -'V 3 -:: ■.-.'■ .• ■ '''.'.. ■''•:.•■; ■:■

"The Popes in these latter days! "have not failed €o call attention "to the deadly evil you are com"bating, and have proclaimed the "necessity of prompt and efficaci"ous remedies; How useful it is show what a scourge alcohol-' "ism is in its'economical, moral, i ''and physiological effects. . -'... . i

"its connection with the deterior^ "ation of tlie family; with the ' 'deterioration of society, whose "most important interests are "menaced by it. Hence "amoiAg "social works there are none more "pressing than this."

Cardinal Manning said: "I impeach the liquor traffic of "high crimes and misdemeanours "against the commonwealth. It is "mere mockery to ask us to put "down drunkenness by moral and "religious means when the Legjs-: "lature facilitates and multiplies! "inducements to intemperance on "every hand. Do you know how "you will help to break-up'the vii"holy alliance between the'Govern"ment and the greatest fraud of "the age? Vote against it!" Archbishop John Ireland : "The saloon is the deadly enemy of "the health, of the home, of the "family, of the country, and of "God. And America demands, and ' 'it will remand in stronger tones "yet that this Ameracan saloon "shall disappear from the face of; "our fair land. We must work "and bend every effort so that "Catholics in political matters will "always be arrayed against the "liquor interests."

.Bishop McDonald, Catholic Bishop of Victoria, British Columbia: "It seems plain that everyone who "has at heart the well-being of his "country and of those who are in "any way dependent on him' should "cast his vote and use his influence "in favour of Prohibtion." Bishop Cleary, Catholic Bishop of 'Auckland, with no personal interest in either the Liquor trade or the Prohibition Party, says: / "(1) He is satisfied with the provision to be made for altar wine; "(2) for Catholics this question, as "stated, is a free one, to be deter'■Smined, in Its last resortV by the "individual conscience." The "Tablet," which is opposed to Pr*hibition, says in its issue of April 3, 1919, page 17: "YOU ARE NOT BOUND IN "CONSCIENCE TO VOTE "AGAINST PROHIBITION." Catholics: the evils of the liquor traffic affect you just as they do all citizens. iYou have a supreme opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow citizens against a. common moral evil. Your faith does not prevent you* doing this. The provision for wine for ti mass is satisfactory. You are free act according to your conscience. 'Let youi* vote be cast as it was in Quebec and in many other places for the welfare of the', nation and the safety of the child.* :> BISHOP CLEARY DOES NOT ADVISE HIS PEOPLE AS TO HOW THEY SHALL VOTE ON APRIL 10th. He - stands for the personal liberty of Catholic electors to vote as their consciences may dictate.*