MR. O'BRIEN (for Mr. SEXTON)asked the Secretary of State for War, If it is true that, on Friday, the 27th ult. the Catholic men of the Militia under training at Monaghan (being about 100 out of a total of 110) were left without dinner because, as Catholics, they refused to eat meat on a Friday; and, if so, how the matter can be explained?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, of the Militia training at Monaghan, on the 27th of April, 104 out of 156 present were Roman Catholics. The usual meat ration was issued to them, and if they refused to eat it I am afraid it is probable that they went without their dinner. I am informed that, by universal custom among Roman Catholics, soldiers and sailors are dispensed from all obligation to fast or to abstain from flesh meat, and that this applies even in Catholic countries. Therefore, as no soldier need have any scruple on the subject, I see no objection to the issue of meat rations on the occasion referred to. Further, it was brought to notice that some of the sergeants were making a traffic of the meat rations, supplying eggs, &c, to the recruits in exchange. As it appeared that the sergeants were the only gainers by this transaction, the strict rule of each man having his own ration was enforced.