STATE AID TO CATHOULIC SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 57, 8 March 1923, Page 9

STATE AID TO CATHOULIC SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—As St. Patrick's Day draws near - the Roman Catholic Bishop, as mouthpiece of his organisation, is again taking up the cudgels on behalf of State aid .to denominational schools. In his remarks at Hamilton, he holds Ireland up as an example of how to provide for religious instruction in schools. Has he ..;■ ■•: ever connected the deplorable condition ; ' of that crime-stricken land with what passes as religious instruction.? The reference to immorality and lawlessness as a result of our State secular system Isi untrue, for statistics are unfavourable, .to the adherents of this church. The] persistent hammering of the church is a T ery real danger to the State. If we carry the argument to its logical conclusion and grant State aid to protect . Catholic children from contamination .in State schools, then it is the rrg*! and , duty of Protestants to protect our children from the influence of Catholic teachers in State schools. On the Bishop's own reasoning, they should be relieved of their present duties forth- , ■ with. But why aid only schools? Why not let the Bishop have State aid for military organisation and equipment. Let the State say: 'There are the State schools, those who pass through will--s*ve preference for State employment."; When public conscience is roused at last by the attempts to undermine our State I institutions, action will be -taken to tonally dispose of this pernicious agita-. tion. Away with narrow sectarianism, ,- - let us stand fast by-our sacred trust, our, "Plendid State system of free, secular ..;.. and compulsory education.—l am, etc., A TO Z.