"CATHOLICS NEED NOT BE CONSIDERED!!!"

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 46, 13 March 1896, Page 17

"CATHOLICS NEED NOT BE CONSIDERED!!!"

ET Protestants have the little that will satisfy the majority. Put Catholics out of court. Give them nothing — even a healing." This is the gist of an article on religion in public schools in the Otago Daily Times of Monday last. Cur contemporary, recognising apparently an element of dissatisfaction in the bulk of the community seems to want, as a panacea for Protestant educational ills, the " daily recognition of religion in the primary schools of the t olony, such as already obtains in the secondary schools." It notes, with approval, that in many schools the Bible is read at the commencement of each day's work and that the Lord's Prayer is also lecited. By Bible we are, of course, to understand "Protestant Bible," and by "Lord's Prayer," we are, of course, to understand " Lord's Prayer " according to Protestant version and usage. Thi Otago Daily Times would offer no opposition to each primary school hoisting the flag of Protestantism, with " Protestant Bible " &nd " Protestant Lords Prayer " inscribed thereon in large letters. Because, forsooth, Catholics, acting on principle and not expediency, refuse to bend the knee to godlessness or veiled Protestantism, they need not be considered in the matter. " The Roman Catholics have refused to have anything to do the national system, and if Protfstant discontent, such as it is, could be removed by restoring the original provision of 1877 we do not think that the Roman Catholic position need be considered in the matter." Jt seems that, notwithstanding the rejection of the pro} osed " Bible-reading clause" in the Act of 1877, Protestant Bible-reading is carried on in many public schools in this Colony. Catholics will not adopt the Protestant platfoim. They will not Bubmit their children to the de-Catholicising influence of teachers who are very often chosen because of the predominant sect-element in the district. Iheir c nscience compels them to give their children something more substantial than the goody-goody instruction which, even in Protestant Sunday schools, goes by the name of " religious training." They cannot cooperate with their Protestant fellow-colonists in adopting a system which banns Christ, or, if changed to suit Protestants, would give, at most, a very truncated Christianity. Therefore, though they pay their share of public taxes and bear their proportion of public burdens, they "need n t be considered in the matter!" If the Times further unveiled the prevailing feeling among advocates of the present system, it would say : " Catholics, in the matter of education, must not be considered at all." "No Catholic need apply " is a pretty general motto with education committees They wish a " true blue " according to the idea of the majority. A Protestant of another sect maybe toh rated. 'Ihe application of a Catholic " need not be considered ' — aa a matter of fact, is rarely considered. If he happens to be Brown, or Jones, or M'Kenzie, or M'Phkrson he may, by the merest chance, secure a position. Promotion in his case will be tardy. In the matter ot promotion there is too good reason for believing the feeling obtains that " Catholics need not be considered in the matter." With patent and gross injustice meeting them at every turn Catholics would be the veriest

cowards if they tamely submitted to the tyrannical treatment of an oppressive majority. The general election approaches. '• Uniform action and real solidarity "is our motto. Our opponents pooh-pooh the Catholic vote. It has to be reckoned with. Politicians and secularist journals try to minimise its effectiveness. We don't find candidates acting on the principle that Catholics " need not be considered in the matter."