BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 508, 10 November 1928, Page 13

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

CRITICISM OF LEAGUE THREE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED Profound regret at the attitude of the Bible in Schools League and gratitude for the non support of two-thirds of the Protestant clergy in the present scheme were expressed by a meeting held yesterday, and presided over by Dr. H. W. Cleary. The following resolutions were passed:—■ "This meeting expresses its profound regret that the Bible in Schools League even still continues to ignore the numerous offers, written and otherwise, made to them by the heads of our Church in the following or equivalent terms: —(a) To meet all interested parties in a round-table conference for the restoration of religion to the State schools, on the basis of the equal treatment of religious consciences all round; and (b) on that basis, to agree that the league and all denominations shall have any kind of religious exercises they like for their own children in the State schools.” ‘"We view with the deepest regret the continued presence of the followingunjust and oppressive features in the scheme to force the Government to take up sectional church work in the schools:—(a) The scheme would create an established and endowed State religion for a newly-formed privileged caste; their religion would suit only one class of religious conscience; and no alternative scheme is offered for the various other classes of religious consciences; (b) conscientious objectors would be forced to pay taxes for the religious exercises of the privileged caste, from which exercises such objectors could derive no benefit; .(c) the scheme in question still clings to the Irish proselytising conscience clause, the evil history of which has been before Parliament and the public, without contradiction, or challenge, for the past 14 years; (d) the present promoters of this scheme made quite clear their former determination to drive out of the public service all objecting teachers who would dare td follow the dictates of their conscience herein; and the conscience clause now offered was officially declared by the late director of education, a noted Presbyterian Church worker, to create inevitably the fact or equivalent of a religious test in the appointment of teachers.

“We feel deeply grateful that the unjust and oppressive features of the present scheme have failed to win the support of about two-thirds of the Protestant clergy of this Dominion. This was sufficiently shown by the unchallenged figures submitted to Parliament on several former and recent occasions. We also feel most grateful that a Bill, containing objectionable features of a practically identical kind, was defeated at the polls by nearly three to one, mainly by the Protestant electors of this Dominion, despite the most vehement appeals by its clerical promoters.”