The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-31
viows Of . Catholic Mechanic ON tho Bible
Question.

vicws Of . Catholic Mechanic ON tho Bible
Question.
To THR EDITOR OF THE ,HRRALD:-
Az the Bible question, In connection with public
schools, has OF late Deen agitated In different Sec
tions OF the country would respectfully ask space
In your Sundays issue for these few lines on the
subject There must evidently be some reasonable
solution OF the question II . little good will and
practical common sense are brought 70 bear on It.
In the first place the American public, being
Protestants as whole, and as such regarding their
version OF the Bible as the embodiment or all that Is
needed for their guide. led to believe. from the
opposition Of Catholics to the reading thereof, that
their religion must be composition OF ceremonies
ana mummeries from bygone ages, which does not
bear the light OF the Bible 70 shine thereon. In
the next place, Catholics, being aware that Pro-
testans OF ali denominations use their Bible to prove
all their differing tenets or opinions regard the
reading thereof In the public schools as rengious
act or intended 10 lmplant Protestant ideas into the
minds Of the children, ana therefore object to 1t
as regards their own children only.
Catholics believe that the Bible or Scriptures are
to be held sacred and their teachings practsed but
that they are not to be misused. which alone ia to
be guarded against. Although there is no Catholic
Bible Society to distribute such gratuitously still
any one can get one at Low price on demand, and,
moreover, there Is hardly Catholic doctrine but
can be proved even from the Protestant version
some so plainly that 1t Is wondered at that PROBES
tants should read 1t without believing therein:
therefore IT Is at least mistake to accuse Catholics
What would Protestants say II Catholics, although
their children might form the majority IN public
Catholic book read for air Would not terrible CIV
be raised at once against lts
1t has been said tnat religion should be taught at
nome or al sunday schools, which could be done
all children had homes as some have the great Tor
tune TO have; out Ia that case no public school
fhnr hpn nhnCvu mil olg hn
learned elsewhere. Most people viii admit That
religion Is even more necessary than secular
THAR Say, Tor instance that arithmeIlc or geo.
graphy should be learned at home or Tor an hour
0nis on sunday Are most OF parents more COM
they more time for It, than TO teach them any
lar branchY And II Catholic children can be taught
their religion at home, why cannot PrOtestantS ais
read piece or chapter from their Bible for theirs
ana leave out OF the schools II others OBJECT to
Insisting on the reading OF the Bible proves that
1t Is wished to teach children some religion and
only their version Is used, PrOlestantS should not
be vexed II Catholics look on it as an efort to wean
their children from their own religion II not 10
make PrOestants oil Lnem and therefore object to IT,
II a religious book must be read, why not make
rotatlOny For instance, one day chapter from the
Protestant version; the next from the Catholic or
the compendium thereof, used In Catholic schools;
and 10 please those who want no religion, omit both
q third day. Where all must pay Tor the building
and support OF the schools there Is justice in one
party trying to override Others
Although Catholics are mostly poor people, and
therefore not taxed for real estate which they don't
possess, they pay their iull snare OF taxes as the
landlord charges TO the tenant much more than he
IS taxed, ana when 1t is considered how many
parish schools they erect and support from their
hard earnings 1t Will appear at once that they
taxed sufficiently.
When there are public schools located closely
together Catholics would mostly prefer TO have
theirs separate and to teach Catecnism with the
ordinary secular branches, is done their parish
schools; but where schools are wide apart III thinly
populated districts that is not practicable, and
common school IS the only alternative for poor
peoples children.
II publishers OF different periodicals. would place
the question before the puDc In Its true light FAIR
Catholics desire.
Let good Will, desire to do right and the usual
American common sense prevail, and we VIII hear
no more or Bible wars.