GODLESS EDUCATION BLAMED FOR WAR

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 189, 9 May 1944, Page 4

GODLESS EDUCATION BLAMED FOR WAR

Metropolitan’s Strictures PLEA FOR RELIGION IN SCHOOLS Dominion Special Service. MASTERTON, May 8. “All this talk about making the world a decen t one when the war has been won will come to nothing unless the godless system of education is entirely abandoned and religion put back into our schools,” said Archbishop O’Shea, Metropolitan of New Zealand, when be addressed yesterday a large and representative gathering at St. Patrick’s Hall, Masterton. The gathering was held to mark the re-dedication of St. Patrick’s School, which was practically rebuilt after being severely damaged in the earthquake. The gathering was .presided over by the Rev. Father N. Moore, and there were also present the mayor, Mr. T. Jordan, and Mrs. Jordan, Mr. G. H. Mackley, MJP., and Messrs. W. 'R. Nicol and J. D. O’Connor, members of the Wellington Education Board. “This school, like hundreds of similar ones in the Dominion, is practical proof of the determination of the Catholic body to provide their children with a thorough Christian education,” said Archbishop O’Shea. “We firmly hold that no system of education is worthy of the name if it leaves out the most important factor of all, the imparting to the youth of the nation a knowledge of God and of ■ Christ. “Our world is in a mess today, said his Grace. “This war, which affeets every country, can rightly be looked upon as a punishment allowed, by the.Alniighty because of men’s rejection of Him during the past century. The nations have tolerated a godless system of education which practically destroys all faith in the supernatural world and belief in the hereafter. Everybody blames Hitler and his like for the war, but (Hitler is merely the product of the age and a result of the godless philosophy which has captured universities, colleges and schools. “This revolt against God and crimes such as the murder of the unborn, a regular massacre of the innocents even in this young country, which sorely needs children, deserves the punishment which the war brings. God was thrust out ,of our schools 70 years ago and, as was said of England by the London “Times” during the first year of this war, while.that nation was ostensibly fighting in defence of Christianity it tolerated a system of education which was bringing up a race of heathens. These are strong words, but they were true. It is even worse here in New Zealand, because some religion is taught in the English schools. “INow the Catholic people of the Dominion,” said his Grace, “after being taxed to contribute to the support of the secular schools, have voluntarily taxed themselves a second time to give their children a religious education in schools such as this one. We are fighting a lone ■battle, but we are determined to keep up the fight. Unless this is done, the world may face another dark age, as happened before, and the Church may again have to come to the rescue and re-create a better world by means of her schools, in which God and IHis law will have first place.”