SCHOOL BIBLE LESSONS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1931, Page 7

SCHOOL BIBLE LESSONS

ATTITUDE OF THE CATHOLICS DENIAL of any agreement. STATEMENT BY BISHOP BRODIE. By Telegraph.—Frees Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Bishop Brodie has distributed as a circular to the clergy in his diocese a letter which he has sent to the Rev. Blamires, secretary, of the Bible in Schools League. . “My attention has been called to the fact that representatives of the Bible in bchools League have stated publicly that the Catholic hierarchy has decided not to oppose the legislation the. league proposes to introduce, states the letter. “As a member of the Catholic hierarchy and having been a party to all the negotiations between the Catholic hierarchy and the Bible in Schools League, I wish to remind you that no agreement of any kind has been entered into by tho two organisations mentioned. Bishop Brodie refers to various conferences at which representatives of his church have discussed the subject with representatives of the Bible in Schools League, and states positively concerning every meeting that the Catholic hierarchy did not accept the proposals of the Bible in Schools League.

REPLY FROM REV. BLAMIRESAFFIRMATION OF AGREEMENT. Masterton, Last Night. Replyin o, to tho statements attributed to Bishop Brodie the Rev. Blamires states that the only official conference of representatives officially appointed by the . League to confer with the Roman Catiiolic hierarchy which was attended by Bishop Brodie wag on April 29, 1900, after negotiations had been opened up with. Archbishops Redwood and O Shea and definite proposals had been placed before them promising protection of conscience to Catholic teachers and pupils, and than if any additional expenditure was inciurcd in tlie introduction of the Bible lessons Roman Catholic taxpayers would not be saddled with additional expenditure.. The hierarehv at the conference referred to decided to send a reply m writing. Accordingly, on May Archbishop O’Shea replied saying: After having given careful consideration to the proposals contained in your letter of April 14, and to what took place at our conference with yourself and, other representatives of the Bible in Schools League, the Catholic hierarchy hereby affirm 5 their approval of the proposals and clauses set out in the. above letter and discussed at our meeting." “That has been the position consistently maintained by Archbishop O’Shea ever since in his negotiations representing the hierarchy with the league, said Mr Blamires. “Acceptance was clear and definite and was duly notified in a statement published independently but together in the Wellington papers by Archbishop Redwood for the Catholic Bishops and by the league executive on July 25, 1930. Since that there has been no intimation of any withdrawal until the statement now made by Bishop Brodie. With tho differences of opinion between the Roman Catholic archbishops and Bishop Brodie the league has noto do. It will honourably fulfil its pledges to protect the consciences, not only of Roman Catholic but also of all who may desire exemption, and must leave to the Roman Catholic leaders the settlement of their own differences.”