CATHOLICS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 764, 12 March 1910, Page 14

CATHOLICS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Presiding at a farewell to Dr. Carroll, Bishop-elect of Lismore, recently, Mr. Justice O'Connor referred to the weighty responsibilities of a Catholic Bishop in a Seo such as Lismore, and said:—"'Perhaps the most onerous and responsible of those duties is the care of education throughout the diocese. .For many years now Catholics of this State hare taken on themselves the whole burden of educating Catholic children. Legislation has forced them into that position. Looked at from one point of view, the position has not been one of unmixed evil. I-have always thought; that it has stimulated Catholic faith, and has brought about a higher • standard of education in our schools. But, on the other hand, it has imposed a special and grievous pecuniary burden on the Catholic community, and grave and constant responsibility on their bishops. And here may I make a digres« sion which I hope will be pardoned on this occasion. I notice it has become the fashion lately amongst some public men to speak of the 6ystem of public education in New South Wales as if it were something sacred, a kind, of Ark of the Covenant; which it is death • to touch. I entirely diil'er from that view. The.'- system - was established by an Act of Parliament, which embodied the views of the. majority of tho representatives of the people at the time it was passed. It as every other Act of Parliament may be,, repealed or modified whenever. it may please a majority in Parliament to so determine. In the meantime, why should its provisions be sheltered from adverse comment, - or its administration from hostile criticism any more' than< ? any other statute, or the administration. of any., other • statute, is sheltered? As 'to the administration of the Act, the Catholio community are at least , entitled to this—that in the teaching under the system there should bo no wanton attacks on .things they hold sacred, no, : coarse -villification .of their dearest beliefs-rand when, the great head of our Church in this State lays a complaint against that administration—a , specific, definite charge, that things are taught: to the children in public schools whish wantonly wound Catholics in their most sacred beliefs, he is entitled to demand a clear and definite answer, and in making thit demand he has behind him; I undertake to say, the-whole Catholic' opinion of this Stale, not' only so, but-he has, I venture to say,. also, the approval ol every fair-minded man in the community, whatever may be! his religious views. I . make these observations at the present time because some few of the correspondents of the daily papers on this subject t have suggested doubt as to the unanimity of Catholics in .this matter. I have not many opportunities of giving public expression to my thoughts cn such topics, and I hope that I may be pardoned for taking advantage of this occasion to state my own view of the question clearly and definitely." At a meeting of the St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee, presided over by Archbishop Kelly, tho following was proposed by Mr. P. Hogan, ana seconded by Mr. E. O'Farrell, two of iile board of directors of the City Mutual Life Assurance Society:—

"That we,' the members of St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee, desire- to convey ' our . heartfelt gratitude to his Eminence the Cardinal for his timely'exposition of the dangers to faith and morality to which the children attending the public schools are exposed, and are pleased to remind his Eminence that his able and timely advocacy of our rights in matters of education has behind it the Ml strength of the Catholic body of this State." The resolution was carried amid enthusiasm, the whole of the audience rising to their feet and cheering the Cardinal and. Archbishop Kelly, as thoy did so. Mr. Hogoji assured the meeting'that the resolution,' not ofcly expressed his sentibut'commended itsoli at : onca to />

the Catholic people throughout' .the,.length and breadth of this State. The Catholic laity were everywhere just as enthusiastic on Securing religious education to their children, as were ~the. priests.; and -Bishops, or even* the Cardinal'himself. roll expressed; his belief that .if, Archbishop Vaughan were here in 'the 'circumstances of to-day there .would be bloodshed in Sydney. Archbishop Yaughan did well in'his day—"our great Cardinal has done 1 better in our day," declared Mr. O'Farrell.