The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-14
Expenses Of Parochlal Schools.

that OF converting the whole world over
t. again every generation. Supposing every
body to be once Catholic, it would be
comparatively easy to perpetuate that con-
dition of things by properly educating the
children. But should the children be
!, reared to manhood without any religious
. instruction the whole generation thus
:, formed would undoubtedly be infdel, aud
the Church would have to commence over
again it's task of converting the human
> race.
or course, we would not say that Paro
chial schools are necessary for the Catho-
lie education of all children. Many of
these are educated in other excellent
Catholic Institutions controlled in some
instances by Religious Orders, in others
by jealous members of the laity. But we
know that it has been said, "the poor ye
have always with you" The divine
| founder of the Church always manifested
peculiar solicitude for the poor and gave
them specially to the care of his disciples.
| In fact, we find that the Catholic Church
is eminently the Church of the poor. Must
not some provision, then, be MADE for the
Catholic education end training of their
children 1t is as essential to the Christian
character of the rising generation that the
poor children should be religously instruct
ed as that the rich ones should be. And it
is essential to the we'll being of the public
that all should be instructed.
In old times the Religious Orders un-
dertook the instruction gratis, of all who
needed it, but, now that they have been |
robbed of their property and reduced to |
the utmost straits of poverty, such q work |
is in most instances beyond their power.
Among certain nations government has |
been in the habit of supporting the schools,
and such schools that Catholic children
and, indeed, those of all other sects,
could be taught and trained under the full
influence of their religious faith. But in
this country Catholics are placed In a con
dition of peculiar hardship. The State
not only supports the school, but goes q
great deal farther it claims the right of
controlling the school. The parent has no
control, his Church has no supervision.
So far as the school ia concerned the child
is neither Christian nor Jew, neither Ma
hometan nor Pagan he is absolutely no.
thipg-that is, Infidel. We say, 80 far as
any positive influence of the school iteelf is
this is SO.
The State, when protested with, blandly
replies, ''teach your children religion in
Church and Sunday school," That is a
permission for which we ought to be duly
as it has not always been conce-
ded in every country; but, after all, it is
not entirely satisfactory. Its blandness is
tinged with something of irony. Theo- (
it is nice to those who know
nothing about it, but practically, it has I
never been known to work. During the I
almost nineteen centuries of the Church,
it has been found absolutely necessary to
the religious instruction of youth that such 4
instruction should be connected with the
routine of every day education. Perhaps it
10 that the Sunday school bears about the
same relation to the secular school that
militia bears to the regular army. There
is too much of the voluntary about it. As
q general thing, the child may go OF not,
just as he pleases, and usually be does not
please. AS matter of fact, very few go.
As to the day school, however, the condi-
lions are different. All children are ex-
pected to be found there more or less.
Public opinion demauds it, and in fact, {
there they are found, and there the Church I
has always found it's only real opportunity {
of reaching them. &
But our enlightened Americanism will I
not hear of this. 1t is willing to take the
parents money for school purposes, but
laughs at the parents prayer for the ap-
Mi Of hat T. l.
own ideas of the necessities of education.
The consequence is that in this happy Re
public, where the people are said to be
masters, but where majority can play the
tyrant more Pitilessly than an Emperor,
the Catholic poor are deprived of all gov
eminent aid in education. Hence has arisen
the necessity of the paroOhial school, free
school maintained at the expense of the