BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1033, 25 July 1930, Page 9

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

AGREEMENT WITH ROMAN CATHOLICS PROPOSALS OF LEAGUE Press Association WELLINGTON, Thursday. An official statement has been issued by the executive of the Bible in Schools League on the recent negotiations between Roman Catholics and Protestants, as a result of which it is expected that Roman Catholic opposition to the proposals will be at least lessened on the important points. The statement says that after the conference of representatives of the Protestant Churches held, in Wellington last March, to consider matters relating to the Bible in schools question, a letter was forwarded to Archbishop Redwood and Archbishop O’Shea, quoting Bishop Cleary’s words: —“We want only two things—protection of the consciences of our children, and protection of the consciences of our teachers,” and inquiring if this represented the Roman Catholic position. The outcome was the opening of negotiations, with the object of meeting the difficulties which had previously prevented the opposition of uhe Roman Catholics from being withdrawn. The difficulties were frankly faced in the conference and correspondence, with the result that the proposals made by the league executive (which was empowered by the conferences of the Churches to continue

negotiations) have now been accepted by the Roman Catholic leaders. These proposals are as follow: DETAILS OF PROPOSAL U) That an interpretation of the league's earlier . conscience clause exempts ipso facto all Roman Catholic teachers and pupils from participation in Biblo lessons. (2) That Roman Catholic taxpayers be freed from paying any portion of the additional expense that may be involved by the introduction of the Bible into schools. (3> That during the time set apart fcv religious instruction exempted pupils be given lessons in secular subjects. These have been embodied in clauses for inclusion in a Bill. The principle was also affirmed in the conference of representatives of the Protestant churches and approved by the executive of the league, as follows: If the introduction of religious observances or instruction involves any additional cost. Roman Catholics shall be exempt from paying any share of this additional cost. These clauses represent the proposals made by the league executive and accepted by the Roman Catholic hierarchy, which will be forwarded to the governing bodies of the Churches comprising the league. They are embodied in this new Bill, which will be considered by these Churches, with a strong recommendation for tlieir acceptance by them. The report of these Churches will be received before the Bill takes final shape, and it is understood that the Bill cannot therefore be placed before Parliament until 1931. Regarding the question of State aid, the league throughout has been quite definite in the decision that negotiations must be carried on without committing it in any way to the Roman Catholic claim. The negotiations have been conducted from the beginning without involving any surrender of principle on either side. The statement concludes: ‘"These

negotiations have happily resulted in a complete agreement between the leaguo and the Roman Catholics on the above proposals."