CATHOLIC ATTITUDE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1932, Page 6

CATHOLIC ATTITUDE

TO BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. statement by archbishop ■REDWOOD. (British Official Wireless.) WELLINGTON, October,-14. A comprehensive statement' of tli= position of the Catholic Church in regard to the Religious Instruction m State Schools Enabling Bill now before th e Legislative Council, has been handed to the “Post” by Archbishop 'Redwood, .Metropolitan of New Zealand, for publication. Archbishop Redwood says the New Zealand hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of the Metropolitan and bishops of Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland, Brodie, Whyte, and Liston.

When- /the Bible in Schools representatives met the Catholic Bishops in conference, their proposals received sympathetic consideration and they, were asked to reduce their legislative programme in writing and submit- it at a later date for the hierarchy’s perusal and comments. When this programme was submitted to Archbishop O’Shea, Archbishop Redwood was absent from New Zealand and Archbishop O’Shea, without consulting the three Bishops, wrote approving of the suggestions mac Te. The Bishops of Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland were unaware that' the Bible-in-Schools representatives had submitted their programme- to Archbishop O’Shea, who assumed the concurrence of the -Bishops in h-s approval. When the statement--of Bible-in-Schools Committee preferring to O'Shea’s approval as that of' the Catholic body, appeared in the" press, the named Bishops for the first time knew of O’Shea’s approval. In turn each of the Bishops disassociated himself publicly from concurrence.

Later, on his return to New Zealand, Archbishop Redwood summoned a meeting of the hierarchy and in a considered statement signed by the four members of the hierarchy addressed to the- Parliamentary committee

'"-»n taking evidence on last year’s mil, their joint disapproval of the contents.

This statement, which is quoted in full is a repetition of the -statement nf the- hierarchy in 1925.