The Irish standard., 1918-11-02
A CATHOLIC ASPECT OF PROHIBITION.
(Contributed.)

Reply to Catholic Bulletin" editorial
Il was shown editorial which appeared in the Catholic
Bulletin of the 10Th inst containing the following
ment cor misinfomed alleged Catholic teach
ing who dwell the attitude of the Church towards
prohibition insist that this is ntiCathoc
ment designed to abolish the Mass and the Church
of business. AS belong to the sadly benighted class
therein referred to- who disagree with the learned
editor the vexed question of prohibition from Cath
oc standpoint wish to take exception to the statement
quoted above
Prohibition is ) non.Cathoc do not say antiCahoc
in principle (2) to the Catholic Church in this
country.
1. (a) The fundamental principle of Prohibition s-t
seeks to remedy evil in the world by removing the
though the may be the abuse and
use of something good in ITSELF In other Words it wishes
to legislate evil out Of the worldne in theory but
practicable in practice is evident from history You
legislate people into being good because civil
aims at the good and welfare Of the community in attain
ing it's natural happiness Moral goodness belongs to the
realm of the supernatural therefore, must train the
WILL we'll educate the intellect of man. wish to
make him moral beng-a being distinct from and su-
perior to the animal The important part the will plays
in the formation of character and in helping to attain
supernatural destiny entirely ignored in Prohibition
(b) Christ approved of the of liquor by changing
water into wine at the marriage feast Being God He
knew the evils, the temptations and the promate
sons of sin liquor would be for many of His children
yet He did not condemn destroy liquor but sad my
grace sufficient for thee" If they grace
Him nOur OF need they would
ceive adequate assistance to the temptation Pro-
hibton says lost through the abuse of ntoxi
cants, therefore must do with liquor altogether
in order to the weakings of society," Is not this in
direct opposition to the principle advocated by Christ?
H. 1t is menace to the Church in this country
though there is clause in the Prohibition Bill before the
state legislature of Minnesota permitting to wine
for sacramento purposes Almost all Catholic Prohibition
lists Of today will admit that such prohibition would
be unconstitutional Here is the opinion leading
torney the matter 1T has always been conceded since
the matter became subject of judicial determination
the Federal Constitution does not by its letter anywhere
protect religious freedom and equality but leaves that
the state supreme in the matter religious tolerance
Granted that there is clause in favor of the Of
sacramento wne is 1t possible amend the bill
bill passed. that the of wine would
be expressly forbidden? maintain that would be far
easier to amend clause after the bill is passed than
pass the original bill without that clause.
According to the official government Of 1910 the
population taken from the official Catholic directory is
therefore the Catholics Is per
the population of the state For the sake Of argument
take that the population is divided in the
ratio Of 60 per cent and 40 cent at the present time
the Prohibition question. this would leave the balance
Iof power its defeat entirely dependent
1.-The substantial the Catholic population II Prohi-
bion wins the 5h Of November then the nonCathoc
wets" will attribute its success to the Catholic VOTE and