CLERGY AND THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1680, 1 March 1917, Page 3

CLERGY AND THE WAR.

ALLEGATIONS BY MINISTERS’ ASSOCIATION. ACTING-PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. The Christchurch Ministers’ Association waited upon the Hon. Mr Kassel 1 on .Monday and urged that equality of treatment to all churches in respect to the conscription of the clergy. It was alleged by the deputation that there was a secret understanding between the Government and the Roman Catholic Church in this collection, if it existed, the deputation held it was a most reprehensible thing, and an injustice to the rest of the community. The Minister said he could not give a specific reply to the assertion that a secret understanding existed between the Government and the Roman Catholic Church —only the Acting-Prime Minister could do SO, Speaking to a press reporter on the subject above mentioned, Sir James Allen (Acting Prime Minister) said: “1 notice that there was a feeling that some private arrangement exists between the Government and the Roman Catholic Church. I wish to make it perfectly clear (here is no private arrangement between the Government and the Roman Catholic Church, or any other church. The arrangement made has been publicly notified and publicly acted upon. In simple language, the arrangement is this: That where the heads of any churches take upon themselves the responsibility of saying that a clergyman cannot be spared and that it would not be in the public interest to send him to the front, the Minister of Munitions would sign a certificate to that, effect to the .Military Service Hoard before which the case came. The regulation is perfectly clear. It says: “In determining an appeal on the ground set out in par C, section 18 of the Military Service Act, the board shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, accept as sufficient a certificate from the Minister of Defence, etc. The boards, so far as,l know, have accepted tin' certificate as sufficient in the cases of all priests and all clergy, but in the case of two students of the Roman Catholic Church, for whom certificates were sent in, the board, in its judgment, came to the conclusion that there was good reason not to accept (he certificates. Those are the only two cases 1 know of. These certificates have been sent down for each of the denominations in every case where the head of the church has accepted the responsibility of asking for them. It is not correct to say that tlit* Roman Catholic Church is the only one that has made application for exemptions. As far as I know, nearly every church has made applications for exemptions. Jn the telegraphed report of the deputation, Mr Russel! sai'd: Tie could not give a specific reply to the assertion that a secret understanding existed between the Government, and the Roman Catholic Church —only the Aiding Prime Minister could do so.’ 1 can give a specific reply," said Sir James Allen. “There was no secret understanding between the Roman Catholic Church and the Government. There was no understanding that did not apply to all the other churches, and the other churches all know it.” SIR JOHN FIN'D HAY'S VIEWS. Hastings, Feb. 27. Sir John Findlay, in his speech hist night, strongly opposed conscription of the clergy. He said it, was a most delicate question whether we should force a minister of religion to go into (he trenches to kill the enemy. If persisted in there would be most serious trouble. The rights of conscientious objectors had been admitted and provided for in the conscientious clause of the Military Service Act. The ministers were doing excellent wav work in New Zealand, better than they would do if forced into the Irenehes to spill human blood against the tenets of their creeds. “When we find men standing firm upon their convict ions, the lime has come to pause. The consolation of religion is dear (o many, and while it is being sought by bereaved mothers and wives there is a call for ministers of religion here, and while that (‘all is heard 1 shall oppose (he calling up of ministers of religion to tight-.” The Hawke's Bay Branch of the Catholic Federation held a meeting and passed resolutions similar in terms to (hose passed in other centres in protest against the conscription of the clergy.