BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3679, 18 August 1927, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

MR. ISITT REPLIES TO BISHOP CLEARY. '* Hastings, Yesterday. Hon. L. M. Isitt last evening replied to Bishop 'Cleary’s criticism of his pamphlet on Bible reading in schools. He said: “While quite understanding the intensity of Bishop Cleary’s opposition to the Bill, I think if people will conscientiously read the pamphlet, then they will see the absolute absence of anything that has developed a sectarian Bill. 1 feel sure that any reasonable man would agree with me when I say that the Bill is not a sectarian one. Where Bishop Cleary finds that I have misrepresented I do not know, but should he at some future date specifically point out where misrepresentation had been made, I hope to answer him to the best of my ability.” . Referring to the Bishop’s ridicule of the suggestion that it was the Roman Catholic Church which had prevented the reform, Mr. Isitt contended that this was patent. 1 If as a body the Catholic Church reversed its opinions and supported the Bill, there would be a following in either 1 House. While recognising the noble efforts and generosity with which Roman Catholics had sought to provide schools where religious instruction was given, Mr. Isitt maintained that, even with all that enthusiasm and generosity, it was impossible for the Catholic Church to provide schools, for all the children in the many sparsely populated: areas of this Dorinion. He added: “After 15 years’ experience in this work I am convinced that it is either the terms of this present Bill, which is really a compromise to the existing conditions and conveniences, that will be enacted, or nothing. It is absolutely absurd to say that even 14 per cent, of the voting power of the Catholics taken en block does not affect the Bill. The only thing that stops the Bill from going through both houses is the opposition —conscientious, I will grant it to be —of Catholics.” Mr. Isitt took the opportunity of saying that, while Biship Cleary v/as diametrically opposed to the questions at stake, no. man recognised more clearly than did he (Mr. Isitt) the high character and noble life of his ecclesiastical opponent.