NO MAORI EVER A CATHOLIC PRIEST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 181, 15 September 1876, Page 12

NO MAORI EVER A CATHOLIC PRIEST.

To the Editor of the ' New Zealand Times.' Sir, — I, 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 by 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 couritry. After three yexrs 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 aa strange as it is false. For the last thirty-seven years I could account, almost as an eye witness, for every event of importance or novelty connected with the Catholic Church in this country, yet I never heard of a Maori being made a Catholic priest. I 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 kind permission, sir, I would advise you to be 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, A Catholic Pbiest. August 81, 1876.