THE BISHOP'S PASTORAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 27 January 1893, Page 17

THE BISHOP'S PASTORAL.

N another part of this paper will be found Dr Moray's Lenten Pastoral for this year. This document strikes us as containing matter of the greatest importance in reference to the education question. It is evident from it that the Bishop expects nothing, or next to nothing, from mere political action. No doubt the Catholic people are reminded of their rights and duties as citizens, and warned that their duties as citizens remain untouched by anything said in the Pastoral. But the Bishop has made it clear that his chief reliance, so far as Catholic education is concerned, is placed on the zeal, faith, and generosity of his own people, and that he expects nothing from a stupid and bigoted majority. To us it is apparent that Bishop Moran relies for success on the efficiency bf Catholic schools to raise up an intellectual, moral, and influential people, and that he is sanguine that his policy most lead to making the Catholics of New Zealand second to none in everything that constitutes a really Christian, learned, and influential Catholic community. There can be no doubt that all intelligent men must agree with the views and policy of Dr Morajj. Hitherto all the efforts of Catholics to obtain simple justice from the Govern* ment and Parliament of New Zealand have failed, and it is

notorious that political adventurers, caring nothing as to the morality of the means adopted by them to secure success at elections, have invariably raised the no-Popery cry, even when Catholics had done nothing whatever in electioneering. It is this fact, no doubt, that has impressed the Bishop as to the futility of taking an active part in political struggles, and suggested to him the policy of concentrating all our efforts on the multiplication and efficiency of Catholic schools. The Bishop knows, as, of course, all intelligent men know, that knowledge is power, and he also knows that Catholics are placed in an exceptionally favourable position an regards schools, and none, not even the Government, with all its money and all its injustice and bigotry, can possibly compete with Catholics as to schools. But one condition is indispensable, and this is that Catholics should understand their means and power, and generously do that which their faith and their own interests and honour demand. Catholics in New Zealand should not forget that multitudes of both men and women, highly educated and zealous and disinterested, men and women who are no meie hirelings, are engaged in the sublime work of teaching their children, and the expense to Catholics of this glorious service is comparatively slight. But Catholics, as is evident to all not absolutely idiotic, must lend a helping hand. And if Catholics will only lend this helping hand, even moderately, the good and beneficent work will surely go forwaid and prosper. A great amount of most successful Catholic school work is done throughout the length and breadth of the land, and the remuneration is hardly adequate to the labour. This is a state of things that in justice ought to be remedied, and that no doubt will be remedied now that attention is called to the matter. Catholics certainly will exercise their political rights, and at the proper time treat their enemies, and the enemies of justice and fair play, as they deserve, but, meantime, they, we feel assured, will not fail to do a still more important work, and leave nothing undone to make the Catholic schools most efficient, and to secure the multiplication of them so that no Catholic child shall have the least excuse for attending public and godless schools. We earnestly ask all Catholics to study Dr Moiuv's Pastoral, and we are satisfied that if they do so they will find a depth of meaning which a mere cursory reader may fail to discover.