ARCHBISHOP AND BISHOP.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 9 April 1919, Page 2

ARCHBISHOP AND BISHOP.

CATHOLICS AND PROHIBITION.

(Published by Arrangement.)

Electors should carefully peruse .the following extracts of opinions recently expressod by Archbishop Redwood. and Bishop Cleary on the licensing question, and draw their own '* deductions: —. ■ ■

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD: “If wine is'an evil thing in itself, then absolute Prohibition, even for sacramental purposes, should follow.” BISHOP CLEARY: “The Roinan Catholic Church rejects the Manic-hue a a doctrine that wine is an evil thing. Tho Church recognises a right use,, and thunders against a wrong use of drinks containing alcohol. She believes in Prohibition for individuals or communities who cannot or will not use alcoholic liquors in moderation. Pope Pius X. and other Pepos hare enriched with special blessings, indulgences and other privileges, tho various total abstinence movements in many lands.” ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD: “I am not at all convinced that those regulations (providing for tho use of wine for sacramental purposes in tho event of Prohibition being, carried) will be satisfactory.” BISHOP CLEARY “quotes a letter from Sir Francis Bell, Attorney-Gene-ral, and says:—“Speaking personally, and with a sense of the high character of Sir Francis Bell and his colleagues, we” feel confident no irksome rcgula- ; tiong will be framed, and that rights | which we Catholics value more than . life itself will be indeed safeguarded in ( ways entirely reasonable and proper.”

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD: “Prehibition is indeed fatal to liberty, became it involves a serious outrage against tho natural rights and liberties of individuality, and contemptuously diregards the claims of dissenting minorities.”

BISHOP CLEARY: “Over a wide area of social relations personal liberty muat yield to what tho Pope terms ‘the general prosperity and the «omrpon good. ’ Every law, both human and Divine, is a restrietion on tho liberty of the individual, with a view to securing tho greater liberty aid well-being of all.” (Such restrictions are in no way opposed to Catholic doctrine or principles; they are purely political and civil business, and they are part and parcel of the exorcieo of the power vested in the Stato by the Creator of human society. With the same proviso it follows that the Catholic elector may vote hereon as his individual judgment may favour and his conscience may dictate.' ’

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD: “V~> J hibition will undoubtedly generate law- * le»eness.” < BISHOP CLEARY: “Tho drink traffic is the occasion of a serious amount of vico and crime. It occasions a grave amount of domestic strife aud misery. It occasions a serious total economic loss in such directions ns the following:—fa) In the homes •£ the intemperate; (b) in the extra provision required in police, in courts, fn prisons, and reform aterie*, and in State and church orphanages for tho direct and indirect victims of drink; and (c) in lowered industrial efficiency and extra industrial and other tree I* dents arising out of over-indulgenco in aieohol.”

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD: “Let such inquisitorial and grinding tyranny never curse .this frets land, 77 BISHOE OLEAIiYr “Such total ahittineaeo as an aeg of religion and good example has the warm approval and blessing of a series of the supreme pontiffs of our Church. 77