Bible in Schools.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7846, 25 May 1904, Page 7

Bible in Schools.

Reply-to Roman Catholic Bishops

(Per Press Association)

• -WELLINGTON, May <jj The Executive of the ■HibV-in-Schools Conference has framed a reply to the recent manifesto of ih e Roman Catholic Bishops r-^-.ii-io-the Bible-reading in school*^ * The executive believes that an ovarwiu>lming majority of the people of' .n! w " Zealand are dissatisfied at the tiresent . system of secular education and only await an opportunity to say so. It remains for those o'pne-s----ing the movement to show a mason why the people shall not !.av c an opportunity of expressing ti., : ir w ill on the question. The executive deplores the defects in the pr ss.-nt s~stem,; and maintains that ilio oviovance of the Catholics is i-mViv inseparable from their sectarian it.mtipn and attitude, and %hat the State had not asked them to CAir-nd sixtythousand annually in provi-Jincr for separate education for their children. Moreover, a S"ant to Catholics for schools would !•« c -. cienominational grant :• r strict!-.- :rictarian • purposes, and would undoubtedly issue in the overthrv-v of the State system. The Churches leprasenled at the liiijln-ia .-chools Conference do not wish to destroy or impair the State system, and they are convinced the clanger can be avoided only by giving effect to their reasonable demand for the introduction of .Scriptural instruction into the school curriculum. The Catholics do not object to the text book but will not have the Lible in the State schools on any terms, and on that-point agreement between the Catholics and other Churches is impossible. As to the Bishops' fear of proselytism, the executive say it is hypothetical,. and as to the teachers' difficulty, . the Churches have done, their best to safeguard them in any way. A conscience clause means, that the Churches are opposed to anything' int.the nature of religious tcs.ts being applied to teachers. The executive admits the inadequacy of the ,;form of ballot paper in Ja?t year's Bill, as It would not secure that the Jessons contained in the Scripture text books should be taught by iteachers within school •hours, and it is Intended therefore to urge. ou the Government a lorm of ballot paper unmistakably placing before the: electors- that clear-cut and. definite issvie.'