The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-24
The GoumenIcaI councIl and the Schools.

| per OF inc ITOJeStduC pOTtlOh "a Iuoi'
countrymen, yet we have scarcely a
doubt that the Gcumenical Council will
fully sustain their action if the subject
is brought before it. The anxiety of
more fanatical Protestants to keep up
the mixed schools is so manifest that their
motives could be easily OWNED even if
more tangible evidence were wanting, but
founders of the system that proselytism is
the principal object. contemplated by it.
Though we cannot know the exact nature
of subjects that will occupy the attention of
the great Council, or foretell the action to
which the Holy Ghost will inspire them,
we may we'll anticipate that the vexed
question of State education will receive a
certain amount of attention, if not prom
inent one. Perhaps the most important
class of questions will be that arising frem
conflicts of authority between Church and
State. The encroachments of civil govern
ment of late years upon the prerogatives of
the spiritual authority have been so numer-
GUS and oppressive that they would appear
to have attained sufficient Importance to
merit the grave consideration OF the gener-
al assembly about to convene.
Among the most formidable of these en-
croachments is the assumption by the State
of control over education. The Church
can never consent that it's children shall be
entrusted for their education to other than
Catholic influence. It,/does not object
merely to sectarian influence which will
strive openly and ardently to indoctrinate
the infant mind with error, but also to in
differentism, which is still more pestilen-
tial and fatal in it's silence: Better be as
fanatical as Saul the Pharisee than cold
and indifferent like Agrippa. At no mo-
ment during its immaturity ought the
youthful mind to be beyond the guidance
and control of true morality, and the
Church is the depository and fountain of
that morality. 1t would be very strange
if she should consent to entrust the faith
and morals of impressibe and unsuspect-
ing youth to the keeping of men who are
selected without reference 30 her standard
of either.
There is such thing as moral atmos-
phere." Though the expression is fgurative
it conveys the idea of an actual condition
of things. Protestants are pleased to ridi-
Guile the expression and ask if thr Govern-
ment must be paid to keep up this " moral
atmosphere" To this we reply that it is
none of the Governments business to sup
ply atmosphere at all, or interfere with the
freedom of its enjoyment, but if it will do
so let it furnish " moral - one. We do
not ask Government to tax people for our
hut IL inS foy fhaV
Education" we want it to furnish schools
with such an atmosphere or influence, that
! faith and morals will not only escape as
saults, but will be promoted as the Christian
Church has right to see that they are
| promoted at every moment of mans exist
ence.
This right of the Church is of course not
insisted on in its corporate capacity, which
is not recognized in this country but in the
| individual instances of its members, whose
religious convictions are supposed to be
respected and protected.
If Governments and majorities cannot
be persuaded to do what is right, Catholics
can at least be warned against yielding to
them in what is wrong, and prohibited
from tasting the mess of free pOttage with
which they are Fibed to sell the biftAFigAt
of control over their own children. The
Irish Bishops have taken this step, and it
may well be that the grand Council of the
General Church will indorse their policy
while giving it more extended applica-
ton. In that case, if our Catholics cannot
escape the 0ncrOus tax which the Common
! School sy-stcrIf-im reses-eh- them, they will
at least be taught imperatively to bear the
burden in dignifed patience, and not
strive to avert the sacrifice of their pocket
by substituting the sacrifice of their chill
dren's souls.
&, By an advertisement in our columns, we are
glad to that have for neighbor Mr.. Chas
W Clark who has purchased the entire material of the
book job and photographic departments of the late Ores
! newspaper made his headquarters lJ6 era
rier street in