The Portland daily press., 1871-05-11
Catholic SCHOOLS Once More.

Catholic SCHOOLS Once More.
"a Canadian" writes to the Argus On the
subject of Catholic schools in a spirit so evil
IDENTIFY candid and sincere as to make it GER
tain that the bad-tempered heading to his
communication is one of those thoughtful
contributions to the subject which the Argus
is so well qualified to furnish editoraily' W.
fake canadian" to be an honest mar, ana We
answer him accordingly He finds our public
schools unsuited to his purposes because they
do not give his children the religious instruc-
lion which he justly regards as of no less i'm
portance than intellectual culture. We are
SURPRISED that all intelligent man should
make such an objection as this. If the pub
Tic schools did teach religious dogmas he
would certainly have good reason to complain.
And it has always seemed to us that, in order
to remove the sole cause of dissatisfaction
that Catholics can with any plausibilty al
lege, the only remaining vestige of religious
instruction by the State that may be involved
In reading the Bible in the schools should
cease to be insisted on. 1t is true that the
courts in this State have decided that such
reading is not religious instruction, and that
it is generally regarded as merely the best
means of Installing into the youthful mind the
universal principles of morals without refer
ence to any church dogmas whatever. But
it seems to us that it would be better to waive
this point rather than to weaken the unan-
unity with which resistance could otherwise
be made to Papal encroachments on the
whole common school system by giving them
pretence for their hostility that seems to
some minds not irrational. 1t is strange that
anybody needs to be told that in this county
the state has by its organic law expressly ex-
cluded itself from the performance of this
function of teaching religion, aud that its as
ISOLATION with the church would be as unde-
slrable as it is impossible. Every parent has
at his own fireside the means of imparting to
his children such religious knowledge as he
thinks proper-means amply supplemented
by the great facilities each ecclesiastical Or
ganizationo has for intoxicating its doctrines
through its churches, Sunday schools and re-
lgous publications. ..-ss. ..-,.I 81
We feel an unleigned reluctance to touch
thiS OoeuohS oChUot qutottOu VI dCCOuuG VI
the unfortunate and delusive appearance of
intolerance and bigotry that it gives-pas-
sions with which this paper has no acquaint-
ance. The question we discuss is purely
political mot partizan) one, and it is from
this standpoint alone that we view it. Posi-
blyit is matter of no importance to this
government whether its citizens are Papists
or Professionals, but it is matter of immense
import whether they are intelligent or ignor-
ant, and whether they regard themselves as
owing their first allegiance to their country
and its laws or to a.church hierarchy that is
distinct from, ii not hostile to, both. And
this brings US to the necessity of speaking
very frankly of what we understand in re-
gard to the instruction given ip the schools
for which Catholics in different parts of the
country claim as a matter of justice that
share OF the public funds should be set apart.
If we are mistaken about the matter we shall
be glad 70 be set right. We understand in re-
gard to the private Catholic scho OILS Of this
city, for instance, that the instruction they
give is chiefly religious. We are told that pu-
pills coming from these Institutions into the
public schools are found to be we'll instructed
in the observances of the Romish church, in
a knowledge of their duties to the clergy, in
sacred music and in all else calculated to
make deyout Catholics. And this, SO we are
informed, is the extent OF the requirements
ofthese pupils. They know all about the
saints aud martyrs and can sing the Stabat
Mater, but they are far behind pupils of the
same age in the public schools in their kpowl-
edge Of reading, writing, arithmetic geogra-
ply and grammar, as well as in general infor-
nation. In short, they have been fitted to
submit through life to the dictation in all re-
spects of their ecclesastics, but not 10
exert the independent judgment and to
form the intelligent opinion that are
the prime requisites of American citizen.
ship. Those who have an acquaintance with
the subject tell us that so far as the Portland
schools are concerned, not excluding those of
the highest grade, there does not seem to be
an attempt to enlarge the understanding of
pupils, and that the branches we have emu
merated are either ignored or made. spbordi-
nate to teachings supplementary to those that
are given by the church. Everything secular
and scientific is swallowed up by the insatia-
BILE demands of the church and its officers
And this is what reasoning priori, might
be expected. II would be strange indeed if a
church that insists on the fallibility, useless
ness, weakness and mendacity of carnal
knowledge, the futility of scientific inyes,iga-
tim and the chi &c
ma over the dictates of the most enlightened
reason, should teach in schools peculiarly its
own anything stimulating independent
thought or intelligent action. Once more
protesting THAT it is the political question
alone That we are considering here, wei refer
70 the declaration of faith adopted by the
late general council of the Catholic church "a
an evidence that we have not misrepresented
the position of the Papisis on the subject of
secular knowledge. 1t must be generally con.
ceded that If we are not much misinformed
as 10 the course pursued in the schools TO
which Catholics wish to transfer their scbol-
airs from those provided by the state, the pub
nc welfare is seriously involved in the matter.
especially as the Catholic clergy make mo Sc
cret OF their intention to abandon the nublic
SCHOOLS entirely as soon as arrangements can
De made to accommodate the children else.
where. tits said that the Bishop of itbis d;o.
cese has lately made a public declaration to-
this effect.
fInere are certain considerations affecting
individuals that are very interesting in this
connection, but are less Immediately ralavont |