RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. Questions re specting the religious education of children arise not infrequently by reason of applica tions to the courts for either restraining or mandatory process intended to control the religious education of children where differ ences exist between the parents or where the relations of a deceased parent seek to con trol the direction given to the mind of the child.
Where the husband was a Roman Catholic and the wife a Protestant, and by an ante nuptial agreement the children were to be brought up as Roman Catholics, but they had Leen educated as Protestants, and it ap peared that the father gave way to drink and two girls of fifteen and eleven were be fore the court on the application of the fa ther, who had reformed, to restore them to his charge and educate them at a Papist school, it was held that the children should remain at the Protestant school where they then were; [1896] 1 Ch. 740.
Courts or those who have the guardianship of a child after the father's death should have a sacred regard to the religion of the father and, unless under very special cir cumstances, should see that the child is brought up in his religious faith; L. R. 6 Ch. 539.
Where both father and mother were Ro man Catholics and, after the death of the father, a posthumous child was born, and ANC years after the father's death, the moth er became a Protestant and, until the child was about nine years of age, educated it in that faith, the court refused to order the child to be brought up in the father's belief ; S D. M. & G. 760.
Where no abandonment by the father is shown, the mere fact that a child will be better off or more contented under other peo ple's care will not justify his instruction in a creed other than the father's; but when abandonment Is proved, the question turns upon the welfare of the child ; L. R. 8 Ch. 622. See 24 Ch. Div. 317. The pecuniary welfare of the child will be weighed together with its moral welfare, but the danger of making the former all important must be guarded against; 4 My. & Cr. 688.
The practice of the courts of having in terviews with the children is discouraged as tending to encourage controversial opinions in their tender minds, and because the child is often so nervous that the court eau form no useful opinion in that way ; [1893] 1 Ch. 143.
See CUSTODY; INFANT; PARENT AND CHILD.
As to the Bible in schools, see ScHooLs.