IRISH ROMAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11884, 6 May 1899, Page 9

IRISH ROMAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.

TO THE EDITOft. Sir, —Writing on the above subject, “C. A. Tobin ” opens with an apparent contra'dictkn. He denies being a Home-Ruler; but supports the proposal of an Irish Catholic University. Will “C. A. Tobin ” explain the difference in principle between Homo Rule and an endowed Catholic University, which would be controlled by the Catholic clergy at their own free will? Tiie writer then quotes Gladstone in support. If Gladstone inflicted a wrong on the nation for his own popularity, it is no reason why a further injustice should be done. To support this, i quote Lord Selbome, who had a real affection for Gladstone. He speaks of him in his “Memorials” as “too old to learn, too imperious to have any real consideration or respect for anybody’s except his own, intoxicated with,popularity, surrounded always.by those who flatter all |jis weaknesses,, and repel as treason every doubt of his infallibility, and so near the end of Ms life as to be beyond .the risk of having to bear in this world any responsibility for the disastrous consequences of his -measures.” But the point to which I take particular exception is where “ C. A. Tobin ” refers to “Trinity College.’ He is either grossly misleading the public, or he is entirely ignorant of his subject. The Roman Catholics of Ireland dp enjoy access to higher education; in the same way, and in a greater degree, than their co-religionists in England, Scotland, or Wales. They make demands which no Roman Catholic in England would ever dream of making. There Roman Catholics are willing to meet Protestants on fair and, equal terms. This they are at present doing, both at Cambridge and Oxford Universities; and it does not appear that the English Roman Catholics are in any way contaminated by mixing with their fellow-countrymen; and why should the Irish Roman Catholics suffer any injury by going to Trinity College on similar terms ? I will leaveC .A. Tobin ”to explain the above. Then he closes by affirming (without facts) “ that the Roman Catholics will not attend Trinity College as a rule.” Well, no Church or sect has anything whatever to do with the management of the above College. Its Fellowships are open by competition to all without distinction of religion, Its Professorships are equally free. The late holder of the Chair of Moral Philosophy was a Roman Catholic, the late Professor of Oriental Languages a Mohammedan, and its Council is elected in equal proportions by the Junior Fellows, the -Senior Pellows, the Professors, and the Senate. There is nothing in the above that is not found in Oxford or Cambridge Universities, and to which English Roman Catholic students freely resort without offence to their consciences.—l am, etc., *AN IRISHMAN.