IN MALTA

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1930, Page 7

IN MALTA

ARCHBISHOP’S ORDER

CAUSES A FERMENT

i United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. [,

(Received this day at- 8 a.m.) MALTA, May 1

The Archbishop's order, read at all Churches, announces that whoever votes lor Lord Strickland and his supporters, commits a mortal sin, has caused a ferment among the Constitutional party, who are demanding a suspension of the elections.

ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE.

The trouble in Malta had its origin in the action off Lord Strickland, head ol the Ministry, in quashing an order is sued by Father Ca; ta, the Superior of the Franciscan Minor Conventuals, in dmje last, for the exile to Siely of Father Micallef. This order was issued Ly way of a disciplinary measure against th. priest. As the latter is a British subject and Father Carta an Italian, Lord Mt-ricklnnd took action on the ground that a British subject could not h pelled Iron! British territory by a foreigner. a: is decision caused a good deal of irritation among certain classes in Malta who were opposed to the Government, and they tvere held to be responsible for the statement, subsequently contradicted from Rome and by Lord Strickland himself, that t]je latter had been excommunicated.

Cardinal G.i; parri, the Papal Secretary of State, addressed to the Archbishop of Malta and the Bishop of Goxo shortly afterwards a letter urging them to continue their opposition to the policy of the Maltese Government. He declared that the Government was behaving “in a manner prejudiced to religion and to the most sacred Catholic traditions o»f Malta.”

11l sendhig a copy of this letter to the British Minister to the Vatican, Cardinal Gasparri wrote that its object was to inform the Maltese people that Lord ■Strickland was not persona grata to the Holy See. He asked the Minister to decide whether or not the matter was one which should he brought to the knowledge of the British Government.

“The latter,” Cardinal Gasparri added, “in view of the harm which Lord Strickland’s activates aecasion to the Imperial Government, will doubtless arFnt such measures as may he considered necessary to prevent such subversive activity, or at least to dislocate their responsibility from that of Lord Strickland.”

UNPRESENTED REPLIES.

The Archibiishop of Malta recently addressed a speech to all arch-priests parish priests, and superiors of religions orders. It stated that the Apostolic

Delegation which inquired into the matter approved of every action taken by the Church, as evidenced by Cardinal Gasparri’s report. The result of Cardinal Gasparri’s letter was a protest from the Government. it was also sent to the Press and laid before Parliament. The protest which aimed at refuting the Cardinal’s letter was based on secret documents, which were copied and given to the Press. This reply never, reached the Vatican because the Imperial Government, judging it to be indecorous had not thought proper to transmit it to the Holy Father. Another document presented to the British Cabinet a few weeks ago met with the same fate for the same reason.

, From this it will he seen, said the Vrchibishop, that the attitude df the Malta Government was disapproved bv the Holy Father, while the Imperial r overmnent had not even supported M,n so-called defence of the Maltese Ministry.

G OVERNMENT DENOUNCED

The Archi bishop insisted tiiat he was absolutely impartial as regards all political parties. He said the most striking proof of his neutrality was that each party said that he favoured the other, le denounced those who said that the Pope was badly informed, and qualified such conduct as heretical. He knew Positively off the bad impression which toe Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Constitutional party had made on the Apostolic delegate in the course of his mnnv interviews with them, and Fe said this so that his hearers might '-nnw that to reply when they were that the Pope was misled. He reminded them that they were not tr tn’-on any active Part in favour of tb-V nr'D-nA nprtv, but asked them to follow ‘he TBsTiops.

TPe Pope had snjd that a certain MbiF+nr was not persona grata to him and refused to receive him. notwitbv+nnflinnr th" great, pressure that had been hrnnndit to hear. He would not receive him unless he gave signs of

nentence. In conclusion the Archhisho" sa ; d:

‘ ( VBi r*m-nr finite; fn SC" that tll!S G" vnj'pment- has been badly treated bv the Pnn Q and that ns twrorVJs the iv--1 '' v, ' n,i s Lujmo + Tn's Government is rm’-+ "hews that he i s not a e-Ood Gctholm • nT, d as such falls under ‘canonical sanction. ”

Fi"ollv. fh« said that h" would not fail to take the most sever' 3 measures in com fortuity with the Sacred Canons heeanse “it is scnrdalouis to see nriests adontin" an attitude contrarv to tlmf. oif the Bishops and of the Holy Father.”