The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-01
ARCHBISHOP PURCELL.
A Declaration From the Venerable
Prelate.-The Catholic Church and
the Public School System.
From the Catholic Telegraph


ignorantly misrepresented By the press
and in the forum, in the halls of legisla
tion. and in the pulpi,s of Protestantism,
the Catholic Church has been falsely
and foully accnsed of designing the de-
struction ofthe Common School system.
With the faint hope of making our
voice heard above the loud din Of Sian
der which meets rs on every side when
the school question is discussed, We beg
leave TO state categorically the position
of the Catholic Church in relation to
the Common Schools:
DECLARATION TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Enemies ofthe Catholic Church assert
that the Bishops and Clergy of the Cath
olic Church are hostile to the Public
Schools of the country, and are leagued
together to destroy them. Americans,
read our Declaration and learn our true
sentiments:
l. The Catholic Bishops and clergy
have no intention whatever to interfere
with your public system. Build as ma
ny schools as you wish; We will never
say word against it, and we will leave
to yourself the care of your own chill
dren.
2. You wish your schools to be free
from all religious influence; in other
words, you wish them not to be sectional
or sec;arian in any sense. The EpiSco
pate of the Catholic Church says in this
regard: Do with your children as you
please.
8. We Catholics, on the other hand,
are under the conviction that children
are sen, to school not only to be formed
into citizens, but also, and especially. to
be educated into good men and good
Christians, and our Church believes; in
all earnest, with Guizut, the celebrated
Protestant statesman Of France, that ed
ucation can by no means be separated
from religious influence. Therefore,
while leaving your schools and their
management peacefully in your own
hands, we claim the right of having
schools of our own, from which religion
shall not be excluded, but be allowed &c
exercise its salutary influence on oul
youth.
| 4. We claim the right on the plea
that We are religious body in this fres
country, whose Constitution most solemn
ly guarantees the free exercise OF religi
ous belief to all its citizens, and the full
est personal freedom in regard to the di
ctates ofconscience. Now, there is not
more essential or more precious liber
ty than that Of parents to educate thei
children in the manner which they thinl
will make them happy for time and fo
eternity. Therefore, the Catholic people
with logical sequence, claim the protec
ton Of the Government so as not to b
moIes:ed in their schools.
5. We say protection. No donh
justice and equality would entitle tn
Catholic people of this country to ex
emp,ion from taxation for the support G
ether schools. or to share of the Puhli
School Fund in proportion to the mum
her of pupils in their schools. But ey
en- this claim We are disposed to waive i
your favor.
=. 6. You can have 40 reason to fear tn
effect of our system on the Common
+, wealth, because experience has prove
that the students of our colleges, acae
emies and schools are as good and {
useful ci,izena as those who come out {
your institutions. And if in every otl
: er branch of human action you adm
e the principle of competition, and b,
e lieve in it's beneficial influence, VIII
e should you exclude i, from educatiol
ia and deprive yourself of the benefit whic
!, emulation would produce?
7. We fear that, notwithstanding tn
l. sincere, precise and solemn declaration
?. there will yet be found fanatical me
:, and political speakers who will endeav'
;, to excite their hearers by asserting II
d imaginary opposition of the Cathol
h clergy to the public schools of the coul
n try. 1t is one of the misfortunes of III
< world that it can not get rid of men VIII
ls like Don Quixote, are perpetually 6Rh
ing against wind mills under the plea
of imminent dangers to their fellow me
n. Such men do not wish to know the trut
ie and, though We repeat it thousar
y times tnat We do not oppose ,heir schoo
t. any more than We adore images, or tru
l. more in the Blessed Virgin than in Il
is merits of Christ, they will thousar
j. times renew the charge and swear tn
10 we do. We do not expect to silen
mt such men; bnt we appeal to all fai
le minded citizens not 10 be led astray
a. the bigoied or ignorant ranting of III
ne who would blind them for their own p
u litical ends.
~ We ask no favor or privilege. All ,
rp ask is to be let alone in following /
'iS dictates of our own conscience, and y,
lis can not refuse this without underminl
y the Constitution and preparing the W
- for the loss of'the same freedom
yourself.
Americans, We are willing to raj
=" with you under the flag and Constl,
ton and maintain them with our bio,
as we have done heretofore. Bnt
:, cannot help thinking that both are
" peril while large number ofour fell
citizens, in and out of Office, allow the
selves to be influenced by fanatical
,, stlf-in,erested politicians, or by inf.
N and revolutionary foreigners who col
u, to us with the proud pretention of teat
:" ing us what republican government
' about which they know nothing the
'S selves. All we ssk ia that you will
y! GO to such men to learn what we aim
" what are our sentiments. Give us
'' hearing, and receive this declaration
'"' the sincere expression Of our true prir
9" ples, which we make before God q
IL, 4