A PRIEST CENSURED.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1919, Page 2

A PRIEST CENSURED.

BY BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH

[I’ER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

CHRISTCHURCH, February 27

Action lias been taken by His Lordship Bishop Brodie in refusing to readmit the Rev. Father Cronin, formerly of DarficM parish and of Ross, AAest (,ua=l. into tiic Bounin Catholic Diocese of Lii risteh inch. The Bishops action is the direct result of tho action of Father Cronin in visiting Chrisfichurch without the Bishop’s permission, and taking an active part on behalf of the Prohibition agitation in the present campaign.

In addition Bishop Brodie has stated that Father Cronin’s action has not the approval of ecclesirrt.':: 1 authority. The decision of the Bishop is conveyed in a circular letter wnicli lias been -ut to all the clergy in tho diocese, and which, is to lie read before the various congregations on Sunday.

In the course of his letter, Bishop Brodie says: —‘ ‘I can only regard Father Cronin’s conduct with pity and sadness and must - regretfully ask you, for grave reasons, not to allow him to celebrate Mass in any church or chapel of your district or to allow him to have the hospitality of your presbytery. It' is the duty of priests to refrain from any words or actions which could ho construed into an approval of Father Cronin’s strange conduct, or which would convoy the impression that his action has the approval of ecclesiastical authority.”