Clergy and the War

Levin Daily Chronicle, 20 February 1917, Page 2

Clergy and the War

FURTHER APPEALS HEARD. PRIESTS AND THEOLOGICAL > STUDENTS.

(Evening Post). Appeals for exemption from military s-rvk'c were made to the Third Military Service Board by Archbishop O'Sliea in respect of Fathers Thomas Gilbert, 'William Joseph Peoples, and Edward Long, ordained priests, and Thomas M. Hefferman and Gladstone William Richard Boyd, theological students. In reply to a question from the chairman (Mr W. H. S. Moorhouse), his Grace said that the students had served four years, and had to serve two more, but they had already taken vows, and were under obligations which they could not go back upon.

Tile chairman: They do not take part in ministrations to the Catholic community P—No tliey are not ordained priests until the last year.

Captain Baldwin (imiltary represents/live): Although not qualified to perform the functions of priests tliey have taken their final vows?—Y«s.

Supposing the board should consider that all appellants should be called up, 'would you prefer that they should servo in the Ambulance?—Of course; that is the only thing. It is contrary to canon Jaw for a priest to fight.

The chairman: Is that so?— Yes; it is a law 1600 years old.

The chairman: "What about the priests fighting in France ?—When war broke out the Holy See, in view of the special circumstances, made a special dispensation for priests. It was only because the enemy was in France that the priests were allowed to fight.

It is news to me that it is against the law of the Church.—lt is the law and I understand that the Anglicans have the same law, too.

The Archbishop ■went on to say tliat the law was not made at the request of the clergy, but was made long ago by the Emperor Charlemagne at the request of the i>eople. In those days nlany priests had engaged 1 in war, to the neglect of their spiritual duties. Later on the Ohurcli had adopted the law in almost the same terms. The' law was looked on not in the light of a privilege but a prohibition. People who expeeted ministrations of a kind which the clergy of other denominations were not called on to give would look upon it as a kind of persecution if the priests were taken.

Mr M. J. Mack: -Does that apply with equal force to the students?— Equally ; they also have taken their vows, and the appeal is made on behalf of the people. f Mr Considine: Do yiou consider there is a greater need here for them than at the front doing ambulance -work — There is a greater need here; you can get many men to do ambulance work, but-few to do the work of priests.

In answer to a further question, Archbishop O'Shea said that seventeen priests from this diocese had gono to the front as chaplains.

In regard to the priests, the board adjourned the appeals sine die, appellants to he exempt from military service in the meantime and the cases to. he reviewed by the board before tile First Division is exhausted.

In the case of the students, the chajirm'an said 'that 'the board 'Waty' not unanimous, and' decision was deferred.

Later advices state that the students will have to go to the front.