REPORT OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMEiNT FOR THE YEAR 1872.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 2, 10 May 1873, Page 9

REPORT OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMEiNT FOR THE YEAR 1872.

Our attention has been drawn to the following words of this report, page 19 :— " With regard to the reading of the Bible in the presence of Catholic children, I know of some instances where this was the practice ; but in every such case, I had the positive assurance given me that snch children were present with the full knowledge and concurrence of their parents." Now, we ask, who- gave Mr Hislop the assurance. Was it the teacher, or the parents themselves of the children r If Mr Hislop will say that the parents did so, we shall believe his word ; but if not, then wo take leave to disbelieve the statement, for the very simple reason that the man who could make such a request, or consent to have his children taught out of the Protestant Bible, should have ceased to be a Catholic.

But we have to thank Mr Hislop for his candid acknowledgement that, " in some instances," he knew the Bible was read in the presence of Catholic children. This more than justifies Bishop Moran's condemnation, and proves to the Catholic community the true character of Government Schools. Why the most cireless Catholic cannot now fail to see that his children's faith must be endangered in theseschools, and that he is compelled to contribnte not only towardsProtestant education, but towards the proselytism of his own child.