RELIGION IN THE SCHOOL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9853, 4 November 1924, Page 3

RELIGION IN THE SCHOOL

ROMAN CATHOUG POINT OF VIEW, Tliero was a crowded congregation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland, the other evening when Bishop Cleary stated the attitude of his Church towards the attendance of Catholic children at the religious exI ercises—in secondary State schools. ' Three chief objections were -made by the speaker to such attendance. (I) T 1 ic religious exercises described were to .them ‘essentially sectarian”; (2) attendance ! thereat was at variance -with well-known doctrines and disciplinary laws of their faith; and (3) because of the evil history ant! oppressive effects of the conscience clause in use. Exainp.es were quoted of the use of tho terms “unsectarian” and “undenominational” to describe various reformed denominations and to cover even tho most violent forms of aggressive NoPopery. There were vital differences between these secondary school religious exercises and the forms of religion authorised for the Catholic . child. Tiie school exercises were drawn mainly from ritual and other books intended for reformed religious purposes, and not approved for, nor. permissible to, Catholic chi.ciren or adults. “All instructed Catholic children, ’ said Dr. Cleary, “know perfectly well that their attendance at such, religious worship, etc., is iorbiddon to them by the principles and discipline of their faith. They have not alone a moral right to refuse attendance, hut they arc hound in conscience to refuse attendance, even on their own account and in the absence of any specific directions from their parents. And no teacher has the right, unless by the express authorisation of the parents, to restrict or |j interfere in any way with, those pupil ils» full freedom of conscientious re--5 fusel to attend. ;; “I most heartily approve,” said f Dr. Cleary “of both religious instrucl tion and* religious worship in State |i schools, for the children of the roll ligious denominations 'or individuals i; requesting them, provided that the !! lights of conscience of other childil re a and of teachers be properly safeguarded.” The rights oi dsss.dont ij children were not, however, safeguarj! ded by the oppressive Irish coni' science clause. It' bad, no doubt, been used in good faith in our seconclary schools, without any proselyt- ;; ising intent, and owing to misconii ceptions regarding the facts of Cathi; olio doctrine and discipline. Tho jj speaker, called for “the frank and j! full abandonment of tiio mischievous Irish conscience clause,” long ii ago abandoned in Ireland, and suggested one or other oi the to.lowing I clauses in its stead: Permit attenda nee at worship, etc., only to chikl- | ren whose parents request it in writ- ;| ing; or pei'haps better still, exclude ■I ali children except those promoting ! or adopting a particular scheme of Biblc-in-schools.”