CATHOLICS AND PROHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 167, 9 April 1919, Page 8

CATHOLICS AND PROHIBITION

(Published by Arrangement.)

In other lands Catholics have been amongst the foremost workers' for prohibition, and their influence has bcon a vital factor in its accomplishment. Especially is this the case in the Canadian province of Quebec, which has carried prohibition by a largo majority, and where over 85 per cent, of the voters aro Catholics. Had their influence and thot of tho hierarchy been against prohibition; this great reform would not have beon achieved. Prohibition was not carried in Quebec until tho leaders of tho Church had watched its' operations in other provinces which hart gone dry in earlier years. The. clergy wero confident that ample supplies of Sacramental wines would be available. How 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 prohibitionists, while the venerable and revered Cardinal Begin, of the Dioceso of Quebee,;wasoneof its most ardent supporters. ' Cardinal Merry Del Vol, writing to the International Federation of the Catholic Anti-Saloon Loague on 'April 23, 1911, said: i The Popes in these latter days have not failed to call attention to the deadly evil you are combating, ana' have proclaimed tho necessity of prompt and efficacious, remedies. How useful it is to 6how what a . ,scourge alcoholism is in its economical, moral,' and physiological effects. . ../. .; its connection with the deterioration .of the family; with the deterioration of society, whoso most important interests are menaced by it, Hence among social works there are none more pressing than this.' Cardinal Manning said: I impeach the liquor traffic of high crimes, and misdemeanours against tho commonwealth. It is mero mockery to ask us to put down drunkenness by moral and religious means when the Legislature facilitates and' multiplies inducements to. intemperance on every hand. Do you know how you. will help to break up the unholy alliance between the Government and the greatest fraud of the age? i Vote against it! Archbishop John Ireland: The saloon is tho deadly enemy ot the health, of the home, of the family, of the country, and of Godr And America demands, and it will domand in stronger tones yet, that this American saloon shall disappear from the face of our fair land. AVe must work and bend every effort so that Catholics in political matters will always be arrayed against the liquor interests. ■Bishop M'Donnld, Catholic Bishop ot Victoria, British Columbia: It seems plain that everyo;io 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 hi? influence in favour of prohibition Bishop Cleary, Catholic Bishop of Auckland, with no personal interest in either the liquor trade prohibition party, says: (1) He is satisfied wilh tho provision to be made, for altar wine; (•') for Catholics this question, us stated, is a free one, to be determined, in its l ast I ' eso, ' t > b - v tlle

individual conscience. . "The "Tablet," which is opposeo; to prohibition, says, in its, isue of April 3, 1919, page 17: . You are not bound m conscience to vote against prohibition. Catholics! The evils of the. liquor traffic i-.ffeel you just as they do all oiliz.'iis You have a supreme opportunity to siaiid'slio'.ilder-lo shoulder with your fellow-citizens against a common moral evil Your faith does not prevent your dnin-' this. Tim provision tor wine tor the Mass is satisfactory. \ou are free In not according to your conscience, .el vour vote be cast as it was in Quebec and in many other p iirra-for llie « - fare of the nation and the safety ol the child. , , . , . llishop Cleary does not advise his people as to how they shall veto on April 10. He stands for the personal liberty of Catholic electors to vote as their consciences may dictate.