The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-26
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.

RADICAL ACTION BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF Bos-
ToN-cATHoLIc SCHOOLS TO DE ESTABLISHED
IN EVERY PARISH OF HIS DIOCESE
From the Boston Journal. Nov 25]
The outcome of the school difficulties in Cam
bridge is likely to be great change in the relations
of thousands Of the children of Massachusetts, with the
public schools. In the course of the controversy to
which Father Scully has been party. it has been
stated that that gentlemans course had the approval
OF the Archbishop; but many persons, Catholics as
well as Professionals have doubted all along that such
was really the Such Of the doubters as were
familiar with tho policy and methods Of discipline of
the Catholic Church were OF the opinion that as
soon as Public attention was drawn away from the
subject that it could not be said that the action
was forced. the Archbishop would quietly take the
steps necessary harmony In the Cambridge
parish. But the question has now been settled be-
You'd doubt.
terly gathering of all the clergy for the discussion OF
disputed theological points It's sessions cover two
days and are presided over by the Archbishop The
first day the meeting is composed OF pastors only.
and second the assistants come together. The
Synod was held at the Cathedral last Wednesday and
Thursday, but what then took place is now made
public for the first time At the close OF the theo-
logical discussion on Wednesday. the Archbishop
nounced to the pastors that he had something to say
to them concerning the school question The inter-
est created by this announcement is repre-
scented by those who were present as having
been intense, for there some doubt.
even in assembly composed exclusively of
Catholic pastors rs to what line Of policy would
be marked out. But the doubt soon set at
rest for the Archbishop read letter from the Pope
to European bishop. in which His Holiness urged
the establishment OF Catholic schools and conferred
upon pastors the authority to withhold the sacra-
ments from parents who refused to send their chill
dren to them. That the Archbishop declared, was
to be the policy in the Archdiocese of Boston At the
same time-and this was regarded by some as an al
fusion to the Cambridge pastor-he deprecated any
tyrannca action the part of priests. He then in
structed the assembled pastors to begin ut once the
establishment schools in their respective parishes,
and he informed them that it, after the schools
in operation refused to send their children to
them, pastors would be sustained in denying them the
sacraments He went even further, and said that il
any priest was satisfied that the public schools in his
particular locality injurng the Catholic chill
dreu spiritually he should withdraw them imme-
dateiy from within the range OF the bad influences,
II there were parochial school ready to re-
ceive and educate Them This he justified on the
ground that the spiritual welfare OF the children
| was paramount to the intellectual. On Thursday
he repeated to the assistants what he told the pas
tors and instructed them to do all in their power to
| aid the movement.
The feelings of the priests concerning this move
| ment differ. There are some who eager to
| men, see in it world of labor and perpexity. and
| are 10th to take up the burden; and there is
| still another class whose congregations are
burdened with debt already, and who can see
| in the future discomfort and division among
their people when called to take their children
from free schools with which they are satisfied and
place them other schools the character OF which
| is unknown to them. at expense to themselves.
But mheanwhile Father Scully has not
been idle. The answer with which he
| was most frequently met by parents who
| were unwilling to send their children to the
| parochial school that they considered 1t I'M
necessary the spiritual instruction OF the
children was concerned because they could learn the
principles of their religion in the Sunday school.
which they attended regularly. To meet this reply,
he has taken very radical step, less than the
dscontinuance OF the sunday school altogether.
which he announced to his people last Sunday