CHILDREN AT CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 24 March 1925, Page 6

CHILDREN AT CHURCH

ALLEGATIONS REFUTED THE PALMERSTON CASE By Tjgr.EanA.rK.—Pnuss Association. Palmerston North, March 23. On March 18 the daily newspapers throughout New Zealand published a Press Association message to the effect that “Much public discussion had resulted in the disclosure that the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church of Palmerston North had been defying the health regulations prohibiting the attendance of children under sixteen at services”; also “that 130 children, obviously under that age, were in the building at one time”; also “that a police prosecution would follow.” Documentary evidence is available to show that every material statement in the above message can be disproved. It appears that the allegations were published in a letter to the morning paper. This was the only public reference made thereto. Father ?fcicManus immediately replied, refuting the allegations. No further reference was made.

He points out that the arrangements for the special function for children were made in January last, /prov’«ionallv upon the Health Department regulations being cancelled. These were officially fl,nd publicly cancelled on March 15, three days before the mes-. sage was sent out. Notices published from the pulpit and preserved in the church notice-book prove that the children were not actually attending Mass and were prohibited from attending while the epidemic lasten. Provision for children in the church was eliminated in February last. The statement that a police prosecution would follow has no foundation in fact.

[lnquiries made at the Health Department yesterday indicated that the restrictions prohibiting the attendance of children at churches were as stringent as ever and had not been repealed.]