§ MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING (for Mr. Redmond)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it is a fact that the Roman Catholic paid chaplain of Perth Prison is not permitted to say Mass on Sundays in the Prison for the Roman Catholic prisoners, or that no facilities are provided to enable him to do so; and, if any provision whatever is made for the religious wants of Roman Catholics in the other prisons of Scotland?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSI have been informed that the Catholic priest at Perth has the use of the prison chapel on Saturdays for whatever purpose he chooses, and that he has never complained to the Governor about those arrangements. I have received a letter which enables me to answer the Question. It says that the priest himself is busy on Sunday with 1856 his own parochial duties. Special application has been made, I believe, in respect to one or two prisons for a room in which Mass could be celebrated, and one, I know, has been granted. With regard to other prisons, I am not aware of the arrangements made by the local authorities, nor could I learn them without special inquiry; but I believe the fact to be that the Catholic clergymen in the neighbourhood are entitled just as much as are any other clergymen not of the Established Church to visit those prisoners who belong to their religion or Church.