BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1927, Page 1

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

THE CATHOLIC CASE. WELLINGTON, Sept. 29

The Uihlo-in-Schools Committee continued hearing evidence this morning. Bislmp Cleary submitted (lie printed minutes of evidence on behalf of the Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops.

Bishop Cleary made a lengthy statement before the Education Committee, mi behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, against the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, lie said that the Roman Catholics adhered to the belief iliac education was a training of the intellect. the will, and the emotional nature in preparation for complete living. Such convictions had been shared by many people who were not Catholics. Roman Catholics, therefore, would never accept anywhere a purely secular system which shut out from the child at its most impressionable age the highest form of knowledge, obtainable through religion. The secular system, he said, gave the people a choice between Christ and Herbert Spencer: “and.*-’ he added, “we have chosen Christ”

Roman Catholics. Bishop Cleary stated, desired equal rights, and they opposed a State Church, which could only he a sectional one. They could never conscientiously contribute to taxation for the public endowment of a form of established religion from which thev could obtain no benefit-. If public moneys should he expended on religious exercises suited to the Protestant conscience in the, State Schools, then the Roman Catholics would do all possible lo secure their share of such funds for conducting the religious exercises suited to the Catholic conscience in those same State schools.

Replying to questions, Bishop Cleary said that he would object to a plebiscite on (he question of religion or of conscience. Roman Catholics could not accept any teachers of religion, hut their own. The Nelson system, though not perfect, in his opinion, was far ahead of any Biblo-in-Schools Bill that had yet been proposed. The Committee adjourned till Tuesdav.

TEACHERS’ OPPOSITION. WELLINGTON, Sept. 28,

Tn connection with Mr H. Holland’s Religious Exorcises in Schools Bill, the Education Committee heard further evidence again to-day. Air Atkinson, on behalf of the petitioners ,asked for an adjournment on the ground they had a definite assurance from the Prime Minister that the request that the petition should go before the Committee, with power to make a recommendation, and notes of the proceedings was reasonable. The Minister of Education said that unfortunately the matter had not boon attended to, hut at the same time he saw no good in adjourning. Mr "Hudson (chairman) agreed that nit nesses need not give evidence if they did not wish. Evidence was then given by Pastor Harvey, of the Seventh Day Adventists, against Air Holland’s Bill. Mi Parkinson, secretary of the Educational Institute, submitted a lengthy statement on its behalf, also opposing the Bible-in-Schools. Last year the Institute had voted against it by •>- to 18. Air Holland said he had a lot of letters from teachers approving ol the Bill. AH- Parkinson agreed that there were a lot who supported it. Afr Forsyth pointed out that there were 509 teachers and only 79 dolomites, and asked if the votes of the latter could be said to represent the views of the teachers. Afr Parkinson said that they represented the general opinion. The Committee adjourned till next