Sir Colman O'Loghlen's Bill repealing the Acts which forbid the
Lord Chancellorship in England and Lord-Lieutenancy in Ireland to be occupied by Catholics, which •prohibit the foundation of monasteries, and which declare bequests for masses void, was on Wednesday talked out after a debate of the usual kind, note- worthy only because Dr. Ball admitted that if the Chancellor lost his ecclesiastical patronage a Catholic might be trusted in his. office. Mr. Bruce was for compromise, and would concede every- thing except the Chancellorship, which public opinion would not sanction. Why not, if the Church patronage is transferred during
a Catholic's tenure of the office to the Archbishop of Canter- bury ? The fact is, these restrictions and that on monasteries, are all inconsistent with modern ideas, and should be abolished for the sake of civil justice, as they will be whenever a Jew is wanted for either office. The Mortmain rules rest on a different footing, —the expediency or inexpediency of allowing money to accrue to corporations which, like the Romish Priesthood, neither die, nor, squander, nor utilize the funds. It cannot be argued that the pro- hibition of such legacies stops the religious services, for the priests. could perform them on a request unsupported by payment.
Previous page
