Archbishop Frank Little, the former Roman Catholic archbishop of Melbourne, (1974-1996) died 7 April 2008.

 Before his funeral, reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, the Australian and the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne website failed to mention Archbishop Little activities against the Defence of Government Schools and his activities in relation to State Aid for church schools.

 This was not surprising.  Either the press and professors are ignorant or consider that their readers should remain uninformed. However, a few words were dropped by Archbishop Hart in his homily at the actual funeral. Those in the know can pick it up.

 On April 16, 2008, the Age reported Hart as saying the following:

'He (Frank Little) did not shrink from involvement in controversies that arose on his watch, such as the Defence of Government Schools case, the Medical Treatment Bill, and disputes over the Church's teaching on abortion which he always upheld.'

The Age report continued:

'Like his predecessors, as Archbishop of Melbourne, Archbishop Little was also a builder, being responsible for the creation of 28 new parishes, 61 primary schools, and 14 secondary colleges.'

What Was Not Revealed about Archbishop Little and the DOGS case:

Archbishop Little played a key role in a very significant event in the history of both his Church and the freedom of religion and freedom from religion.  He appeared as a witness in the Defence of Government Schools High Court case, and, as the religious leader of the Roman Catholics in Melbourne was the key operative/overseer for the Church schools in the Trial of Facts. He must be held responsible to a large degree, for both the activities and results of the church agents and workers.

Under Frank Little the following claims were made before the High Court:

• 'The fact is that Catholic schools in Australia are not conducted for religious or confessional purposes;

• ' Catholic schools do not have as any part of their purpose the inculcation of religious values.

• 'Professional competence is the principle criterion applied in determining who is to be employed as a teacher at a Catholic school.

• 'Disclaimed any attempt by Catholic schools to encourage people to take up such a life (vocations).'

 How many readers believe the above statements?

DOGS have not seen such statements before or since the DOGS High Court case anywhere in the English speaking world.  What does this say about Archbishop Frank Little?

In 1983, Archbishop Frank Little, with six other bishops, issued a  Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of Victoria on Education Matters. These seven bishops involved themselves fully in the State Aid issue. Of particular interest is the key value and purpose of Roman Catholic schools.

Over the last fifty years Catholic teachers, both religious and lay, have enabled high numbers of their students to achieve a degree of social mobility which has not been bettered anywhere in the western world.

 The cancer in the body politic at work?

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