THE SPECTATOR AND NEW ZEALAND CATHOLICS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 13, 26 December 1890, Page 17

THE SPECTATOR AND NEW ZEALAND CATHOLICS.

After reading an article in this periodical beaded " Colonial Loyalty and the Vatican," we came to the conclusion that even a high-toned English periodical can write a good deal of nonsense and display a large amount of ignorance even on matters of fact. In fact, this article has largely tended to weaken our faith in the ability and learning of English public writers. The writer of the article referred to assumes that the Catholics of Australia and New Zealand arc separatists and not loyal to the British throne. We have resided a great many years in the colonies, and possess a pretty extensive acquaintance with Catholics, and are enabled to say from our own experience that there is no truth whatever in this assumption. Why, the question of separation of the colonies from Great Britain has never been even considered by Catholics. The question, so far as they are concerned, is not within the pale of practical politics, and we are decidedly of opinion that none would be more strongly opposed to such separation than colonial Catholics none more loyal to Great Britain. r J his is a bogey to frighten babies with ; all full-grown men here laugh at such an idea as separation, and most certainly the supporters of such a measure, if such exist, are not to be found in the Catholic body. The writer of this article seriously tells us that irishmen are in alarming numbers in the episcopate of Australia and New Zealand, and that consequently i(, necessary to

call in the aid of the Vatican to prevent the appointment of any more Irish Bishops, and thus save the integrity of the British Empire. What folly and absurdity ! It is very unlikely the Holy See would interfere in a purely political question, and it is also extremely unlikely that colonial Catholics would change their political views at the bidding of Government nominees. But alarmed as the Spectator is, he understates the facts of the case. Instead of there being only two Archbishops and six Bishops Irishmen in Australia and New Zealand, the fact is, of the Australasian clergy five Archbishops and fourteen Bishops are Irishmen, so that the danger, if danger there be, is very much greater than the Spectator is aware of. Now, after this correction, we anticipate the alarm of our contemporary will partake of the nature of a panic ; and that the Duke of Norfolk will be despatched in all haste to implore of the Vatican to interpose and, by at least deposing some of these terrible Irishmen, save the connection between England and her colonies ! The Spectator seriously informs the public that •" the appointment of the present Metropolitan of New Zealand was strongly resisted on the ground that he was an Englishman aud opposed to the Irish separatists." Nothing of the sort. The facts of the case are diametrically the opposite. So much for the value of the Spectator's views. But one thing is certain, that whilst Englishmen are furiously opposed to Irish ecclesiastics interfering in politics, they are most anxious that the chief ecclesiastic in the world, though an Italian, should efficaciously interfere in politics in favour of England and against Irishmen everywhere. It is for this purpose such efforts are now being made to enter into diplomatic relations with the Vatican. It is not for love of the Church or of the Irish race ; it is not for the sake of religion, but purely in order that the Pope should become a politician in their favour and against Irishmen, that Englishmen, particularly English Catholics, are exerting themselves to persuade the Pope to take an active part in politics and to appoint political Bishops to strengthen English interests and English tyranny. F>r one thing, therefore, we are indebted to this writer in the Spectator. He blurts out the object of English diplomacy and lays bare the project of English politicians, which is to make the Pope, if possible, a tool in the hands of the English Government to prevent the appointment of Irishmen as Bishops in the colonies. And so great is their haste and zeal in this anti-Irish crusade that they appear incapable of perceiving that they are offering the most brutal insult to our Holy Father, and doing the very thing best calculated to create what certainly does not now exist — a desire on the part of Irishmen for the separation of the colonies from Great Britain. But this is not the first time that the conceit and hatred of certain Englishmen have produced the very thing which they deprecated.