CATHOLIC MOTHER DEPRIVED OF HER CHILDREN

New Zealand Tablet, 17 August 1911, Page 1567

CATHOLIC MOTHER DEPRIVED OF HER CHILDREN

ANOTHER MIXED MARRIAGE CASE

What may be regarded as a counterpart of the notorious Belfast mixed marriage case (says the Somerset County Gazette of June 3) has arisen at South Petherton, where from the home of Mrs Catherine Realie, wife of Samuel Realie, it is alleged that . three children have been taken by a brother-in-law to Ireland to ensure their being brought up Protestants. A sad story to this effect was told by Mrs Realie at Ilminster Petty Sessions, where she made application to the Bench for the recovery of her little sons, aged six, four, and three respectively. She explained that she was a Catholic and her husband a Protestant. He was afraid that the children would be brought up Catholics, and had given the three boys to his brother to prevent it. '- In reply to questions by the-Magistrates' clerk (Mr. Duke), Mrs. Realie said the family numbered five children, and she had two infant daughters left with her. The names of the boys were Edwin, Samuel, and Joseph. Her husband had not deserted her, but had, against her will, handed over three of her children to his brother, who came over from Ireland to fetch them. She had no reason to suppose that they would be badly treated, and knew that they would be taken care of, but she did not want to lose any of them. Her husband had done it without her consent, and when the boys were taken away she had to bow to the inevitable. 1 '

Mr. Lean Was there any agreement at the time of your marriage that what children there were should be brought up in one particular faith ? Mrs. Realie: Yes. It was that they were to be brought up in my faithas Catholics. He promised that before witnesses, but not in writing. Mr. Lean: The agreement should have been in

black and white.

Mrs. Realie: But the witnesses could prove it. By Mr. Duke: Her husband was not paying anything to his brother for taking the children. He would now bring them up as his own. In answer to Mr. Lean, Mrs. Realie declared that she did not want to be relieved of her children. She loved them too much for that, and did not want_to lose any of them. ' The chairman (Mr. Jefferys Allen-Jefferys) informed the mother that the court had no jurisdiction to enter into a question of that kind. The father had the right to select the religion of his children and the control over them."

Answering a question afterwards, P.S. Foote said he knew the family well. The children were, he (the sergeant) understood, being brought up as Protestants. Says the Catholic Times: —We have received the following letter in reference to this case: Sir,—Being the only other Catholic present, I was much moved by the statement made at the Ilminster (Somerset) Police Court on Wednesday, the 31st ult., by a Catholic mother, who, if her story be correct, has been grievously wronged. Her appearance and manner indicated that she was in real earnest, and believed that the magistrates had the power to order the restoration of the three children, of whom she appears to have been cruelly deprived. The notorious McCann case was so exploited by the secular and Protestant press as to have elicited much sympathy for the Protestant mother whose children were taken from her. I think some action should at once be set on foot in the interest of this Catholic woman. The Catholics of this country, with all their power and influence, should not allow one of their dumber to suffer so great an injustice as Mrs. Realie, of South Petherton, declares she has to bear.'