BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 14 December 1912, Page 5

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

A CATHOLIC PROTEST

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 13. At a public meeting to-night Bishop Cleary dealt in detail with the seven alterations in the existing law for which he said the Bible in Schools League was agitating. He quoted the texts of the various laws to show that Biblical and general religious teaching formed part and parcel of the regular school curriculum in the various Australian States, and demonstrated that religious instruction is there imparted by the State through State servants as a regular class subject of the State schools. The League demanded in effect that the Education Act should be free and compulsory, and narrowly sectarian, suited only for one group of consciences. Details were also given as to the cost of religious teaching for which conscientious objectors would be compelled to pay tithes in the 'shape of taxes. Catholic teachers could not accept the dogmatic principles of private judgment, and the discipline of their Church prohibited them from, reading or explaining versions of. the Scriptures not approved by their spiritual authority. Their teachers were to be denied rights of conscience which were accorded to the worst criminals in the gaols. The Bishop dealt with the seven proposed changes in the law seriatim, and challenged each one. At the conclusion of the Bishop's address Mr. T. M. Wilford moved, and Mr. J. Hutcheson seconded, the following resolution, "That as citizens and taxpayers of this Dominion we pledge ourselves to oppose the scheme of the Bible in State Schools League as an invasion of the rights of conscience and inimical to the real interest of religion and religious peace." This was carried practically unanimously by the 2500 people present.