The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-21
CATHOLIC SCHOOLING.
GREAT QUESTION ILLUSTRATED by A IocA,
INCIDENT.

A GREAT QUESTION ILLUSTRATED BY LOCAL
INCIDENT.
tFrom the New York Freema An $ Journal I
There was meeting of the Catholics of St
| Peters parish, jersey City, on Sunday, the All
ut. 1t was called to provide for and promote
church. Ex-Aldermau Mcbride was called to
| the chair: The meeting was large and onthu-
slastic. 1t passed unanimously the preamble
and resolutions. These were mostly in detail,
expressing affection and respect for the pastor,
Father Beaudevin, who is sick, and ADOPTING
practical methods for raising the money neces.
sary for the parochial schools. But the first
ceedingly alarmed and discouraged some citi-
zens Of Jersey City, who have shown their
public spirit" by taxing Catholics as well as
others for the support of the goddess Public
schools The devil will lose the principal ob
ject he has in view in stirring up his adherents
TO "public sentiment" in favor of these rod
Less seho1s, if Catholics listen to the voice of
Church, he says, "the Church not only ought
to, but ssast admonsh the faithful, and make
known to them that schools of this kind. adj
verse to the Catholic Church. cannot in con
science be used by them" The words Of this
part of the st. Peters dorsey City, preamble
are as follows:
"Hhereas, Tho necessities of these evil times
are such, that it behooves every Catholic by
prayer good example and alms-deeds, to make
extraordinary efforts for the good of our holy
religion, that Almighty God may be moved to
hasten the triumph of the Church over the
wicked prosecutions which everywhere afilict
it; and
i "Whercas, The chief point to which our be-
loved and afflicted Pontif directs our ntten-
tion ia the present conflict 10 Christian Educa-
stsn. The whole power of the enemies of God
seems concentrated in tho effort to destroy the
very seeds of Christianity in the rising genera
tion, and they are successfully executing their
well-laid plans by means of Goddess Public
Schools, o corrupt Press, indecent literature
and the Gke-of which unguarded and luke
warm Catholics are, unfortunately, in too
many cases, tho advocates and patrons, etc"
Now, we can understand that language like
this-language that proves that Catholics in
Jersey City know the teachings of their Church,
much disquiet all those whose religion" is
summed up in the word Protestant Or,
"Hostile TO the Catholic Church" These geuer-
GUS people are perfectly willing to give up any
have, on condition that Catholics will give up
the well-defined system that they hold as re-
vealed by Iesus Christ, and faithfully handed
down by His Church, under the guidance of
His Infaliible Wears, tho PopCs. To Catholics
this generosity appears to be altogether one
sided. For, to ProtestaatS is not in any way
essential to their Protestdntisms to hold fast Ivy
any one positive doctrine whatever. Some
give up belief in the Divinity of the Lord
Jesus some give up belief in the Personality
of the Holy Ghost; some give up belief in tue
baptism of infants; other some give mp all the
sacramento; and yet others do not believe
there is any hell to be escaped; aud so on.
But all stand firm and glorious in their " COM
mon Protest antiSm," OF hostile attitude to the |
Faith of Jesus Christ rs kept and taught in the
Catholic Church. SO, in abau donng all rel- |
gion "our common Protestantism" makes no |
sacrifice, except of this ones or that ones
notions But Catholics, in sacrificing the souls |
of their children to the Moloch of these modern |
give up their fidelity to their
religion altogether. The case, and the fact, is |
of perfect evidence. The Pope, in document |
set forth for the teaching of the whole Church,
lie must receive as infallibly true, says Catho-
lies I" cannot IN conscience use such schools !"
No one in responsible position ddres to say this
Is even a question of doubt. 1t is q ruled case
D settled law of the Catholic Church.
Parents or pastors may shut their eyes to the
law, and steel their bowels against compassion
for the innocent souls committed to their
rust. But, let such, for ono quarter of an
hour mediate on the words of Divine lnspra-
lion, in the Catholic Epistle of tho Blessed
Apostle st. James: "ue that may have kept
;he whole law, except in one of the things COM
handed, but offends in this ono, he, makes
himself guilty of breaking the Law of his God.
For the same Lord who said Thou shalt not
commit adultery, said also, thou shalt not kill.
Now, though thou dost not commit adultery,
yet if thou commit murder, thou art breaker
If Gods law"
Is not the Catholic who, on q day obligation,
icing in reasonably good health, does not at
end Mass, but sits smoking his pipe in sight
II church where Mass is saying, guilty of
Mortal sin 2 Whyi Simply because it is the
dU Of the Church that he should attend Mass
Is not the Catholic, except exempt by some
oapal dispensatIon, who, in good health, on a
friday, at q restaurant, says: Away with
ySur fish and eggs and maccaroni! Bring me
beeCstdk!". guilty of mortal SIM Why
simply because he breaks a Law of the Church.
rhe beefsteak is good, and honest. The
Catholic may keep the same beefsteak, and eat
I on the next Sunday morning, with a good !!
conscience. And yet be may not eat IL on
Friday. And this is not because it is bad in
tsef bat pure and simple, because il is pro-
Ii6ited. This is what theologians call "p0s-
tire Iaw-that is, law having no obligation /!