The Roman Church divides suicides into " positive and direct
suicide," " positive and indirect suicide," " negative and direct suicide," and " indirect and negative suicide." Lot us suppose that Mr. MacSwiney's act may be described as "negative and direct suicide." According to the injunctions of the Roman Church negative and direct suicide " constitutes the same sin as positive suicide." " In effect a man has over his life only a right of use with corresponding obligations to preserve the object of God's dominion, the substance of his life. Hence it follows obviously that he fails in this obligation of usufructuary who neglects the necessary means for the preservation of life." Thief at all events describes the act of Mr. MacSwiney. He is neglecting the necessary means for the preservation of life. Yet the Roman Catholic clergy by attentively ministering to him in effect aid and abet him in his fatal project as though he were committing no sin at all.
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