LOYALTY OF CATHOLICS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 11 December 1916, Page 2

LOYALTY OF CATHOLICS

PROTEST FROM FEDERATION. ANTI-CONSCRIPTION RUMOR DENIED. Per Press Association. Wellington, December 11. The following statement has been issued bv the New Zealand Catholic Federation: —‘‘The Now Zealand Catholic Federation has learned with deep regret that a rumour or report has been circulated, chiefly amongst the mining population on the V* osl Coast, that the Federation is opposeu to the principle of Conscription, and jis lending its support to the anti-con-scription movement. The general [secretary of the Federation i« authori'sed to issue an authoritative denial (to this unfounded rumour. The conscription matter is completely ontjside the functions or jurisdiction ol {the Federation. It is the law ol this land, and members of the Catholic Federation as law-abiding subjects j will loyally conform to the legislation i passed by Parliament controlling the country. The Fedora; ion '.could not ! tolerate on the part o! its branches, or members any action which migim he construed as disioye l to the Kmpire. To quote the words ol the

Constitution, the iiiins ol the lHHlcia-1 tioa are “Religions ami Patriotic.” Whoa it was proposed to take a re-1 ferendmn in the Australian Common--1 wealth as to whether Conscription should become Jaw, the hierarchy ol that country issued a pronouncement that the vole to he cast by Catholics was one ol individual con emnee, and no direction was issued as to tinned action. In New Zealand, the position is altogether dissimilar, and the Church enjoins upon its members ] strict obedience to the existing law of the land in which thev live, t