CATHOLICS AND SCHOOLS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 90, 18 April 1911, Page 8

CATHOLICS AND SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — When Mr. Nield sat down to write his letter of 31st ult., he evidently felt a little more moderate than he says. I would advise Mr. Nield to follow his own golden rule, and to ask him to think over his. own words, "No one should deprive his neighbour of that which he has a right to enjoy and,possess for himselt." Now, I a?k, have not Catholics a right to enjoy and possess for themselves ihe immense sum of their own money that they are forced to keep up the State schools? If one man is building a house he does not force his neighbour to give him so much money to pay for timber, etc. No; if he did so, he would be punished by the State as dcin» an injustice. Now the State forces Catholics to pay a tax for the support ot the State's schools. Is this not an injustice, just as it is an injustice for the man to force money from another to build his house. Yes, 'tib an injustice, and shame upon the Government that brought in such legislation, and a still greater shame to the present Government that it does not erase such a blot. Mr. Nield asks : why should noft Protestants object to Catholics teaching religion in their schools ? I tell them that they do- not, because they have no reason to do so. I have been at a Catholic college, and 1 can say for certain that Protestant students at the college wero not bound to attend miy religious -function or ceremony, and never shall be bound to do so. Rather they were allowed if they so wished to teaching any religion? Mr. Nield says that in tho home religion, can be taught. I ask him what will become of tho children in whose home, as is a fact m many cases, there is no one capable oi teaching any religion. Mr. Nield says that before a servant can demand payment then ho must be first engaged' by his master. Certainly I agree with him, bufc I ask him dees a master exact payment . from a man who is not his servant? Of course net. Well, this is what the State is doing to the Catholics of New Zealand, and Catholics are rightly and justly demanding that they be not thus treated. Catholics are not. as many think, demanding so much a year endowment to carry on their schools, but demand that they be not made to pay the tax for .supporting State schools. I would like to know Mr. Nield's authority for saying that Catholics are doing their best to get Protestant children to their schools. Mr. Nield evidently knows more about Catholics than they themselves know, for I have- never heard and never will hear of such an 'action. Moreover, Catholics do not teach that it is a sin to attend the State schools. I deny his statement. Wherever he got it from I don't know, bufc I never "was taught such a thing all the time I was at sehooi. Perhaps Mr. Nield confused attending State schools and attending Protestant churches during service. • And the statement that Catholics had endeavoured to get elected on school committees may_ be quite true. Why should not a Catholic have as much right as any one else to see what is being done with the thousands of pounds that Catholics pay towards- secular education? Your correspondent, "J.D." is quite wrong in saying that Protestant childien "-would be taught a lot of what to them would to superstition," for, as I have aforesaid, Protestant students at Catholic colleges — I speak of colleges and if needs be of schools — are not bound to attend or take part in any religious ceremony or prayer ; and I spsak with experience. In conclusion, let me inform your Prottstant correspondents that the history of the Catholic Church is one story of long, bitter, and patient struggle against and victory over injustice. Take the instance of the emancipation of Catholics ? For how many years did Catholics light for their rights ? And did they not gain their rights? Ay, they did; and I tell you that the Catholic' Church is a warrior, tried and trusty, who, though repulsed at' times in the attack against the citadel, of injustice, has never given in, but has destined the citadel of injustice and borne home the spoils of war, triumphant but yet humble and thankful to God on High. Thus has the Church i'ought and won, thus ia she fighting today, and it k only a matter of time before she bhall win and add another name to her victorious bauner. — I am, etc., CATHOLIC. Wellington, 6th April, 1911.