The Military Service Act.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 21 September 1917, Page 4

The Military Service Act.

The Position of Priests and Theological Stad'nts.

A. largely-attended meeting of the |)*jrißi>ioiiti£3 of the Roman Catholic

Church, St. Bathans, entered an emphatic protest against the calling up for military service of the clergy, teaching brothers, and theological students. Mr J. M'Devitt, who acted as chairman, claimed that the Catholics of this district had shown a splendid example of patriotism,self-sacrifice, and unflinching loyalty during the present unhappy war. All were still prepared, in conjunction with other rienominations, to do their utmost to assist in bringing the present struggle to a successful and glorious termination. At the same time, th«-y considered that their priests and brothers should be left with them, and, he said, that in granting this request the Government would only be following the precedent set by Great Britain and America.

Messrs James Enright and P. Dillon also spoke, after which the following resolution (proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Mr Enright) was unanimously carried amidst much enthusiasm: —"That this representative meeting of the Catholics of St. Bathans and the surrounding districts, while expressing a civil determination to preserve unity of action, and continue, along with members of other denominations, to prosecute the war to a successful termination, consider that it is their sa'.red duty to intervene and request Parliament to repeal that portion of the Military Service Act which forcibly compels their priests, religious brothers and theological students, pgainst not only the tenets of their religion but the present law of Great Britain, to take up and use deathliealing weapons in order to destroy or maim th<=ir fellow men; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence and the member for the district"