RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 4

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

Attitude Of Catholics REPLY TO METHODIST LEADER PA HAMILTON, Sept. 19. “I have an observation or two to make on the recent statement of the Auckland District Methodist Synod, said Bishop Liston, of Auckland, in opening a new Catholic school in Hamilton. “ The chairman of the synod said that churches providing religious education for children were doing good service under the present system,” continued Bishop Liston, “but he did not add—and he should have done so—that members of these churches,. being taxpayers, are forced under the present system to pay heavily for the education in State schools of, say, many Methodist children. If the chairman thought the matter out, I feel he would not wish the education of these children to be paid for to a considerable extent by Catholic taxpayers. But, if his reason for rejecting our claim, namely, that the State system of general education is open to all, means what it seems to say—be satisfied with what the State provides, do not bring up questions of conscience and the rights of parents and the fair distribution of taxes—l can only say that it is just a statement that a Hitler and a Stalin would welcome.

“It is interesting to see,” continued Bishop Liston, “how the claims of the minority are met in one part of our Commonwealth. Quebec province is 88 per cent. Catholic and 12'per cent. Protestant, in small groups. All the taxes paid by Protestants for education go, however, to Protestant schools controlled by their own school boards If in Quebec, why not in New Zealand? Give to all taxpayers a just share in the distribution of their own money, and it is our own money only that we are asking for. Money was paid by Catholic taxpayers to the amount of about £700,000 to £BOO,OOO this year for education provided in State schools.”