BISHOP OPPOSES BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 163, 30 September 1927, Page 9

BISHOP OPPOSES BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

THE CATHOLIC CONSCIENCE Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. Bishop Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, in a lengthy statement before the education committee, n behalf of the Roman Catholic Church against the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, said that Roman Catholics adhered to the belief that education was the training of the intellect, will and emotional nature, in preparation for complete living. Roman Catholics would never accept anywhere, a purely secular system which shut out from the child, at the most impressionable age, the highest fcrrm of knowledge obtainable though religion. A secular system gave Jreople the choice between Christ and Herbert Spencer, “and we have chosen Christ.” Roman Catholics desired equal rights, and opposed a State Church which could only be sectional. They could never conscientiously contribute to taxation for the public endowment of a form of established religion from which they would obtain no benefit. If public moneys should be expended on religious exercises suited to the Protestant conscience in State schools, then Roman Catholics would do all possible to secure a share in such funds for conducting 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 the question of religion or conscience. Roman Catholics could not accept any teachers of religion but their own. The Nelson system, though not perfect in his opinion, was far ahead of any Bible-in-Schools Bill yet proposed. The committee adjourned till Tuesday.