A FRANK PRIEST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 8

A FRANK PRIEST.

CHURCH VOTE FOR SALE, GREAT ORGANISATION PROJECTED. The Rev. M. J. O'Reilly, C.JI., president of St. Stanislaus' College, told a largo congregation in Saints Michael and John's Cathedral, Bathurst, on July 27, that Roman Catholics were too apologetic. They were supposed to be a people with tho most wonderful organisation. No one had been ablo to discover who the organisers were, unless they were the black-frocked gentlemen referred to ill tho 12th of July business. "Some folk," 110 added, "believe that tho people who came to the Confessional to tho priest, are asked % the latter as soon as confession is over, 'Who are you going to vote for?' After that tho priest gave tho straight tip, and they backed the winner every time. "If people in future ■ say to tho Catholics, 'you have an organisation,' they will reply, 'Yes, old man, and you look out:.' We. are going to have an organisation. It is a great pity that we did not have it years ago. We deserve anything wehavo got. The time has coin; when wo are not going to bo patronised by those people, and if there is any patronage it is we who aro going to accord it. "A great many people, on hearing grievances of Catholics, iay. 'If Australia is not good enough for them let them clear out.' That was said to lue about three weeks ago. We have been putting up with this kind of thing toolong. Now wo aro going to stop it. We-are going to take things into our own hands. We arc going to'organise and deal with our opponents in tho most elfective way that is, by the ballot-box. "It is all very well for Mr. Cleary (president of tho Catholic Federation of Now South Wales) to tell 1110 the federation is not political. I tell you it is. He is right when he says wo are not going to identify ourselves with any polltical party. Members vnav lx> Labour, Independent, or Liberal. We are going to soli ourselves to tho highest bidder. We shall be in the market by and bye. "I have for a great many years been voting Labour. But that does not mean that I am for the Labour ticket all tho time. I will vote another ticket to-mor-row if it suits me. I take it that is tho motto of the federation. "We are not going to be dragged by the libels of any party. We are going to keep ourselves free from all definite politics, like the present member for Bathurst, ro that no one will bo able to tell of what politics we are."