CLERGY AND CONSCRIPTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1678, 24 February 1917, Page 2

CLERGY AND CONSCRIPTION.

CATHOLIC FEDERATION’S PROTEST. Auckland, Feb. 21. At the half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, attended by delegates from all parts of the Dominion, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: —“This meeting on behalf of the Catholics of New Zealand protests against the Catholic clergy and religious being compelled to serve under the .Military Service Act on the following grounds; (1) That such compulsion of the clergy and religious is abhorrent to the minds of Catholics and without precedent in English-speaking countries; (2) that the number of such clergy is too insignificant to make their service as soldiers of material value in winning the war; (3) that the religious are absolutely necessary within the Dominion, and that this meeting earnestly hopes and trusts that the authorities will take immediate steps to have all such persons exempted from such service; (4) that this meeting fully supports the action taken by Archbishop O’Shea in this matter and assures the heirarchj' of New Zealand of its earnest assistance in any further action they think advisable; (5) that copies of these resolutions lie sent to the Acting-Prime Minister.”