BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 86, 18 April 1913, Page 7

BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.]

Sir,—ln his last letter in reply to me, I observe that Bishop Cleary acknowledges that he cannot see hov members of his church could dare tn formulate a scheme of religious nr struction for the children of denominations divided from the Roman Catholic Church. His policy seqras to me to be anything but constructive. Bishop Cleary has no scheme, yet when we suggest one which is at least ,reasonably. fair to all, he condemns it. . , ,• .- •

iWhat is jit .tljat.’tfco ( leagnc desires ''but tb.a'tf, which, Bifjiop Cleary nuds so Hirtdesrrahle? .It <Jesir?s, to see ,, p s " tablished in New Zealand a system oj religious instruction in the day school fiwityr to that, in vogue in Aus- f 'tralia. Time has proved that system to he on the whole satisfactory, and the fact that .in Qie year,,l9lo author;ized tejachors ; of .the. Romap, Catholic ‘ Church', paid,- visits, spsalyP. for itself so.Tar-a® thfijt, is concerned . I presume these visits were for tno purpose of giving, such instruction as the law intends, for 1 cannot believe that the representatives oi the Roman Catholic Church would take advantage of the facilities offoied foi this purpose, to take their children apart for any purposes not countenanced or permitted by the State. Bishop Cleary lias only answered my previous letters in part, and then seems to me to have gone off at a tangent. He appears to deal extensively with theories and arguments about piincipies and rights, but I lor my T part cannot get away from facts. 1 ( or example, if by this system conscientious objectors are compelled to contribute to the exclusive endowment of any particular view of religion, why has such an unfortunate state of things been allowed to go on for years in Australia, without being rectified. The Bishop also speaks of forcing objecting teachers to teaca what their conscience forbids. Bet me quote an official statement of the Department of Public Instruction of New South Wales: “All teachers irrespective of creed are required to teach the Scripture lessons; and in no case has refusal to do so taken place, nor lias complaint ever been made to the Department that the lessons have been ridiculed or made light of.” I also find that in Queensland, where there is a large proportion of Roman Catholic teachers, not one was found to refuse the lessons ’ or make difficulties about them on their introduction. From this it does not appear that the teachers find the system unsatisfactory, for I cannot believe that they would violate their conscience any more than would Catholic teachers of the Church of England or of the Roman Communion in this country, while I am satisfied that those of other communions would he equally true. I am, etc., WILFRID A. BUTLER, M.A., Chaplain to the Bishop of Auckland and Vicar of Stratford. April 18th.