P.P.A. AND ROMAN CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1922, Page 8

P.P.A. AND ROMAN CHURCH.

N£R. J. B. HINE’S ATTITUDE, REPLY TO MR. MASTERS, (Published by Arrangement.) Addressing the electors at Tariki on Monday night, Mr. J. B. Hine, the Reform candidate for the Stratford seat, made special reference to Mr. Masters’ attitude regarding the P.P.A. and Protestantism and the Marriage Bill. “Mr. Masters wants to know who is responsible for the visit of the Protestant .Association’s national lecturer to Stratford,” said Mr. Hine. “The answer is obvious. Mr. Masters, by his betrayal of Protestant principles, gave the invitation, and both by voice and vote, when the Marriage Bill was before the House, showed that he did not appreciate the glorious inheritance of Protestan'sm. Now,” said Mr. Hine, “I wish it to be plainly understood, that I never do, and never will discuss nor criticise the. faith’ of any religious sect in conjunction with politics. I respect the faith of the many denominations that prevail, but when it comes to replacing or over-riding the civil law of the land with doctrinal law. then I say beware. May I say to the Roman Catholic section of the community that the very ground work of Protestant, principles are these: Equal rights and opportunities to all, and special privileges to none, and T ask them, is there any. thing wrong, or objectionable in those principles? And further, will they, as members of the Catnoiic Federation, place their asms and desires on the table as openly as I have?

“I wish to remind the Protestants -of this Dominion, that the Reformation of the sixteenth century established the right of private judgment, and it is this verv liberty /-of conscience that is so dear to all Protestants, that compels us to say ‘hands off’ to all and sundry who attempt to interfere in that cherished right.

“The Marriage Bill was brought down because evidence had been given before a, select committee of Parliament, and the evidence was of such a. nature that the Government was compelled to act. It was given on oath that in the case of what is termed ‘mixed marriages.’ that is, marriages between a Catholic and a Protestant, unless such a union was solemnised in the Roman Catholic faith, it was not considered legal in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, and the couple were living in sin, and the children were illegitimate. That is the Roman Catholic doctrinal law as laid down under the ne temere decree.

“And now let us see what happened in Parliament when the report of the select committee was brought down for adoption by the House.” continued Mr. Hine. “A discussion arose, and a vote took place. For some reason almost the whole of the Liberals voted agahist the adoption of the report, and Mr. Isitt. in moving that the report be referred back to the committee for re-considera-tion, said he understood that the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church were prepared to promise the Government, that the church would discountenance and frown upon anything of the kind, that is, of course referring to the ne temere decree. Poor gullible Mr. Isitt. Did not Archbishop O’Shea say in nublic immediately before the passing of the Act: ‘Now, I want to assure you that w r e mean precisely what we say when we declare that we wiH defy and disobey any law that will have the effect of preventing us from touching the doctrines of our church; we will resist and defy any isuch law 7 , if it is passed, by every means in our power, and, God helping us. we will never allow it to prevail over us.’ “Now 7 , why was the Liberal Party so anxious to appease the Roman Catholics of the Dominion in this matter, by doing their united best to defeat the Government proposals? Is. the Roman Catholic Federation part and parcel of that unknown organisation that Mr. Masters boasted about three years ago. and which he said ‘was going to put the Reform Party out of power’? and is not the samp organisation to-day. still supporting Mr. Masters, to the extent of some 1500 voters in this electorate? Let the Roman Catholic vote be divided between us, as the other denominational votes are, and he will be beaten out of sight. “Finally.” concluded Mr. Hine, “whilst on this subject, let me appeal to all Protestant, parents to realise that the future happiness and welfare of their uhildren have been safeguarded by the Massey Government in the amendment to the Marriage Act; and to see that Mr. Massey is given such support that will ensure for New Zealand, a continuance of the privilege of the people to ‘the right of private judgment.’ ”