car. I] THE CHURCH IN THE DOMINIONS 1445
oxtent still do retain, precedence, which is a relic of the former
connexion of the bishop and the State, although it has now
been totally modified by the admission of Roman Catholic
bishops to equality of precedence. The part played by the
Roman Catholic Church in politics in Canada and in New-
foundland has, however, always been most marked, and in
Newfoundland especially the Roman Catholic archbishop has
had a degree of political power which is quite remarkable,
and which under Sir Robert Bond’s Ministry appears to have
caused it to be quite a natural thing that he should be
approached by gentlemen who desired to be made members
of the Executive Council! The most extraordinary fact,
perhaps, is that this action should have been passed without
serious comment in the press of the Colony.
In Canada the action of the Roman Catholic Church has
predominated in Quebec, and its strength has seriously
affected Dominion politics, for the attack on the liberties of
Manitoba over the question of education was forced upon
the Conservative Government by the belief that it was
necessary to maintain the allegiance of the Catholic Church
by securing their control of the religion of the French part
of the population of Manitoba.? The defeat of that Govern-
t Evening Telegram, January 24 and 25, 1908 : Daily News, January 27 ;
Evening Chronicle, January 24.
* In Quebec the Church has the power to collect dues from Catholic
members by the law, controls education, but is entirely autonomous as to
appointment of bishops, &c. The Pope issues commands which are treated
as laws, e.g. re mixed marriages. See Goldwin Smith, Canada, pp. 122 seq. ;
Dilke, Problems of Greater Britain, i. 19 seq. ; Willison, Sir Wilfrid Laurier,
1.53 seq., 253 seq. ; ii. 40seq.; Canadian Annual Review, 1909, p. 408; 1910,
Pp. 625; Galt, Church and State; David, The Canadian Clergy; Lindsay,
Rome in Canada; Sellar, The Tragedy of Quebec; 2 P. C. 157, at pp: 173.
204 seq. ; Egerton, Canada, pp. 52-4, 70, 107, 108, 319-24.
* The Catholic Church cast all its strength in the scales against Sir
W. Laurier, and the clergy ordered their parishioners to vote against him.
In 1877 an election was declared void because of clerical interference;
Brassard et al. v. Langevin, 1 8. C. R. 145. For the Catholic Church in
Canada, see 14 Geo. III. c. 83,8. 5; 31 Geo. I11. c. 31,5. 35. The nominal
supremacy of the Crown retained by the Act of 1774, though repeated in the
earlier royal instructions (cf. Parl. Pap., H. C. 94, 1838, pp. 71, 72), is
habitually violated. Monastic institutions are recognized ; see Parl. Pap. ,
H. C. 385, 1877 : c¢. 18928.
