HC Deb 08 June 1882 vol 270 cc486-7
MR. CALLAN

asked the President of the Local Government Board, If his at- tention has been directed to a statement which appears in the "Weekly Register" of the 3rd instant, to the effect that— At the last mooting of the Burnley Board of Guardians, the Rev. James Merrissey made application that the Catholic children should he allowed to attend the services in the Catholic church, instead of attending the services of the Church of England as at present. Mr. J. W. Hartly moved, 'That the application of the Rev. James Merrissey should be allowed, pointing out that the guardians stood in the position of parents to children, and, as such, ought to give them religious training, which would be afforded by the fathers and mothers.' Mr. Law, in seconding the motion, remarked that it was only common sense and fairness to grant the application, and that they ought not to refuse to Catholic children the religious training they "would wish them to have. The Chairman pointed out that if any inconvenience arose from the granting of the application the guardians could rescind it, but the guardians, by a majority of sixteen to ten, refused the application, the result of which is that the Catholic children are obliged to attend the religious services and instructions of the Protestant Church; whether, in view of the foregoing circumstances, the Local Government Board will take the necessary steps to secure to the Catholic pauper children in the Burnley Workhouse the full and free exercise of their religion; and, whether, in view of the many and grave complaints that have been made of the religious intolerance of boards of guardians in England towards Catholic inmates of workhouses, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce a Bill to give to the Local Government Board in England the same controlling power, in the matter of protecting the rights of conscience and providing for the religious requirements of paupers, as is exercised by the Local Government Board in Ireland?

MR. DODSON

Sir, the Board have received no information whatever on this subject, and as the Notice only appeared to-day, I have had no time to ascertain the facts. I will, however, have the matter inquired into, as it is my wish to secure to the Roman Catholic children in the workhouse the full and free exercise of their religion.