NO MAORI EVER A CATHOLIC PRIEST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4820, 2 September 1876, Page 3

NO MAORI EVER A CATHOLIC PRIEST.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sm,—l, as a friend of the Maori, read with interest in your , issue of this day what they aimed at - in their petition to the Legislature in the matter of education. I was suddenly startled lay the statement that a Maori of Hokianga had gone to Rome, and after a regular course of studies had been ordained a priest, and .came back, to; act as a Roman Catholic clergyman in his" own country.. After three years.of ministration, it is added, he abandoned his office, and relapsed into his former state: Well; I have reason to say that I was much surprised at this piece of news, for it is as Strange as ,it is false. For the last thirtyseven years, I could, account, almost as an eye witness, for. every event of importance or noyelty—eonnected with-, the ■ Catholic Church in this country, yet I never heard of a Maori being. made a Catholic priest. X know that Protestants ordained such persons. I congratulate them. But we Catholics have not arrived at 'that perfection, nor did we make the attempt. Therefore the history of a Maori Roman Catholic priest having ■abandoned_ his office and relapsed into his former state is_a ludicrous invention- . With-.your dnnd permis-, sion, sir, I would advise you to bo aware not* to connect yourself with so grave statements, made with such a levity; to distrust Maori assertions, and particularly Maori translations, —I have, &c;r ' „ A Catholic Priest. -August3lst. -