We Want Good Catholic Principles'

In Parliament-Says ARCHBISHOP
GODFREY
From a Special Correspondent A civic reception, and a public rally that packed Llandudno Town Hall, opened and closed the Annual Convention of the Knights of St. Columba held at Llandudno during the week-end. The speakers on both occasions included Archbishop Godfrey, Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain, and Mgr. Petit, Bishop of Menevia.
The Bishop of Lancaster spoke at the reception and attended the meetings of the K.S.C. Supreme Council, which were held on Saturday and Sunday in the Town Hall, as Ecclesiastical Advisor to the Knights of St. Columba, Mr. L. P. Arnold, K.S.C. Deputy Supreme Knight, was elected to succeed Mr. T. Leyland, I.P., as Supreme Knight. Mr. Arnold is succeeded as Deputy Supreme Knight by Mr. D. C. Kelly. a native Of Caenarvonshire, who has been prominent in Catholic Action in the North of England for meny years.
PREDOMINANT TOPICS
.The predominant topics during the Convention, as W. .T. Loughrey, K.S.G.. Past Supreme Knight said at the Rally on Sunday, were the evil of the day and the difficulties confronting members on family life. Appropriately, therefore. the addresses given during the Convention concentrated on citifenship and the ideals of Catholic family life.
Acknowledging the welcome to the delegates by Councillor L. S. Underwood, Dewy Chairman. Llandudno U.D.C.. Archbishop Gridfres' said: " The authority we hold as shepherds of the flock is one in its origin with that of the authority which governs the nation, town or borough. You may expect from Catholics. therefore. reverence and submission in all those matters in which good citizens ov,e their obedience and loyalty."
In his opening address to the Supreme a otincil, Archbishop Godfrey, after reminding the Knights that. so far as the Church Was concerned, they were under no obligation to vote one way or another. unless they had to choose between the cause of God and the cause of evil, stressed the importance of opposing injustice wherever it might be found.
"It is easy to condemn injustice in the party to which we do not belong. hut are we willing to rise up and condemn injustice in the party to which we do belong ? Have we the courage to speak up, or are we too passive ?
"It is sometimes said that we ought to have more Catholic Members of Parliament in the House of Commons and the House of Lords:' said his Grace. " I would not feel so concerned about that, provided 1 knee that Catholic principles were well represented in b8th Houses. If 1 SA Cie told that the proportion of Catholic membership was increasing. I think I would hold hack my rejoicing until I had the question answered: what kind of Catholics ?
THE SLOGAN
" We had no slogan Vote for Catholics.' We were not narrow. We had to recognise good where we could see it and to work hard for I t."
On Sunday morning, Pout ifical High Mass was sung by the • Bishop of Menevia in the presence of the Apostolic Delegate ss ho preached the sermon.
Mr. T. Leyland, J.P,. Supreme Knight, presided at the Rally in the afternoon when the addresses turned on the dignity and importance of the Catholic family.
The Apostolic Delegate quoted reports of the recent International Conference on Mental Hygiene at which it was stated that divorces and separation cases had risen in number from 500 in 1900, to about 50.000 in 1948. The Conference had expressed great anxiety at the disruption of homes. and what Christian heart would not share that anxiets.. ? His Grace went on:
" It • would seem that Catholic teaching on marriage is beginning to be appreciated. and such statistics should gi‘e critics seriously to think. They tell us we are merciless in our attitude to marriage and its functions; that we take no account of human failings and instability.
" In defending the sacredness of the marriage bond and the beauty of the use of the marriage functions according to the law of God." the Apostolic Delegate concluded, " we are defending not only the family hut the State itself, because we are defending something without which no State can enjoy peace and prosperity."