BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 180, 2 July 1931, Page 9

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

A BISHOP’S QUESTION. l’cr Press Association. NELSON, July 1. Referring to the Bible-in-Schools Bill in his presidential address to tlie Synod to-day, the Bishop of Nelson. Dr. Sadlier. said that for many years past lie had been asking the following question : “Can anyone give any reason why. State school teachers during school hours as part of the curriculum and without a conscience clause may give a lesson on Tkol Jizo, the Japanese Saviour of children, to children of Christian parents for whom no conscience clause is provided, and may not even with a conscience clause give a lesson Jesus Christ.

“I have put this question in public and have put it in writing to a committee of tire House of Assembly and there hns been no answer forthcoming,” said Bishop Sadlier. “If the proposed bill passes this question it will become impossible for the future.

Our contention is that the facts upon which my question is based are an affront to the name of Jesus Christ. We have sought in every legitimate way to remove this obloquy from the fair name of our country and shall never rest until the name of Jesus Christ is given by law a definite place in the curriculum of our national schools.

“We base our claim upon our common Christian convictions, on the known needs of the children, and on important national grounds,” his Lordship concluded. “A nation which permits of lessons being given on what we believe to be idolatry and excludes lessons on Jesus Christ stands in danger of being charged with antiChristian bias.”