The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-28
The Vicar of Christ Against Banishing
Religion From Any Hour OF
School Instruction.
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIII,
TO HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL MONACO LA
vAIIETTA, VICAR GENERAL OF ROME.
! " uRLzANs, SUNDAY, JULY SIS irs.

rransl lated for the New York FreemAns journal.
Sioroy Cardinal In the midst of the
many reasons we have found for consola'
Zion and 10y. even from the very fret days
of our Pontifcate, In the many unmietAka-
ble testimonials of affection and respect
that have poured in upon us from all parts
of che world, we have not been without
grave apprehensions, likewise, concerning
the general condition of the Church, which
is nearly everywhere the object Of fierce
persecution, and concerning what we see
going on 10 this very city of Rome, the
centre OF Catholicity and the august See OF
the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
Here We have an unbridled press, news
papers unrelentingly bent on combating
faith with sophism and irony, and on ami
hilatng the sacred rights OF the Church
and on diminishing her authority here,
Protestant temples built with the money
OF Bible Societies, rise up in our most pop
ulous streets, an insult to our faith here,
schools, asylums, hospitals, are opened to
inexperienced youth with the apparently
philsnthropic end of being useful to them
ia their intellectu culture as well as In
their material need, but with the real de-
sign of forming them into generation
hostile to Religion and Ia the Church of
Jesus Christ. Aud, as if this were not
enough, those who, owing To the duties of
their positions, should be expected to watch
over the true interests of the people OF
Rome, have issued a decree banishing the
Catholic Catechism from the municipal
schools. This most reprehensible measure
epens the food gates TO that heresy and
in6delity that is inundatiDg every place,
and leaves the way open to new kind OF
foreign invasion, more fatal and dangerous
than the old one, because it tends more
directly to tear the priceless treasures OF
faith and the fruits that spring from them,
out Of the hearts of the Roman people.
This new onslaught upon the religion and
piety of our people has filled our soal with
sharp and piercing sorrow, and constrains
us to address you, Signor Cardinal, who
ton of Rome, In the present letter upon
= tiis painful subject, and to cry out loudly
Agsinst it before God and man.
DUTIES OF CHRISTIAN PARENTS AND CHRIS
TIAN RULERS.
and here from the very outset, by virtue
of Our Pastoral ministry, it becomes us to
remiod all Catholics Of the grave duty
(which the natural and divine law imposes
uNon them Of instr ucting their children in
the supernatural truths of religion /; and of
the obligation that rests upon men lntrust-
cd with the government of Catholic city,
60 watch over and aid in the accomplish
1nent of this great work. And whilst
raising our voice in the name of religion,
to defend its sacred rights, we desire aiso
'that men realize how much this pernicioue
rneasure 10 opposed to the true welfare OF
society.
1T 10, inde ed, difficult to imagine under
what pretext such measure could have
been couneeled, if it was not that insane
aud perncious Indifference for religion in
which it is now sought to educate the peo
ule. 70 to THE time reason and even nat
zrrai good sense have taught men to lay
aside, as condemned, everything that ex
pertinent has not proved to oe useful, or
(which q change of circumstances has made
1zssIees. But who can cay that the teach
ing of the Catechism has not proved bene-
.dciaia
Was it not religious instruction that re-
NrsaWed the world, that sancttied and soft
.ssaed the mutual relations of men, that
rendered moral sentiment more refined,
aad which formed that Christian con-
sci ence that morally condemns excesses,
reprcves injustice, and elevates q faithful
sseopis above all others Shall it be
clai ened, perhaps, that the social conditions
Of oCr age have made it useless and inju
siaus7 But the welfare and prosperity of
nStions have no secure protection outslde
OF truth and Justice, which the society of
the present day SO much requires, and In
which the
CATHOLIC oATECHIsN
preserves their rights in their integrity.
For the love, then, of the precious fruits
that have already been derived, and that
SaaY be justly expected from this instruc-
4ion, not only should ir not be banished
from the public schools, but every effort
Ahoald be made to promote it.
This is, moreover, what is required by
the nature of the child and by the peculiar
circumstances under which We are living.
We can in no way revive the judgment of
Solomon on the chi'd d, and divide him by an
unreasonable and cruel blow of the sword,
separating his understanding from his will.
while cultivatipg the first, 1t is necessary
Co direct the second in the requirement of
Virtuous habits and to his last end. He
who, in the education of youth, neglects
Ghe will and concentrates all his energies
Gu the culture of the intellect, succeeds in
turning education into dangerous weapon
in the hands of the wicked. 1t is the rea
soning of the intellect that sometimes joins
With the evil propensities of the will aud
gives them power that battles all resist
.nnce.
This is so evident, that it has been re-
SsogniEed, even at the rick of inconsistency
6y ske very ones who desire religious in
ssf1gI eli on banishe0 from the echOOle, These