ANZAC DAY AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Chronicle (Levin), 6 August 1946, Page 5

ANZAC DAY AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

-Press Association

Bv Telearaph-

WELLINGTON, August 5. Claiming that nothing had vet appeared in the Press as to the reasons and source of the agita-tion for the proposed change in- Auzac Day services, the legislation eommittee of the Grand Grange Lodge of New Zealand, made the fol'lowiug statement: — "A r.ecent statfement of the National Council of Churches which comprises all but the Roman Catholic Chureh, made it.,plain no proposal for a change had. eniaiiatedr , f J'OJU' tha,t_ .body.- The :fa'4t-vpugkt''td . bb sfafebd fhat" the ; t%e ; e-lt^&ation ; of aif Day s'eiyiceSj'. ; is * by the Roman- Catholic- 'Chureh not only in Neiv Zealand but- also in Australia, South Africa and Can ada. The objeetion to relrgious observances raised by that chureh is- tliat' of nan-'ow sectarianism which refuges to unite in any act of religious worship or ceremony with members of any other chureh. To aeeede to the demand of the Roma-n Catholic Chureh would be for the Returned Services Association to allow that chureh to dominate and to exclude religion and religious observances at its demand. In Canada, so' strongly had public "opinion been stirred, that meetings of protest had been held and the Loyal Orange Association has instrueted its- members throughout Canada apd British Columbia to refrain from attending any R.S.A. pa-rade from which religious observances are excluded. It may be expeeted tliat if the R.S.A. aceedes to. this narrow and- ill-advised demand' of the Roman Catholic Chureh, considerable numbers will make lilce , protests by refusing, to att6nd parades and services.."