The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-12-01
THE CATHOLICS AND THE
SCHOOLS.

EDITOR BULLET1N:-M antagon-
ist "P. Layman" treats me rather
severely, and l think unfairly, in the
Gazette" of Nov. 9th. l leave it
to the unprecedented public to decide
whether the reproaches he heaps
upon me might not more fairly be
thrown back upon himself.
Considering his letters as being
dictated by the desire of discussing
the school question, 1 did my share
by treating it from the Catholic
standpoint. He seemed to agree
with me that the absence of religious
instruction is defect in our public
schools. AS to the remedy he pro-
posed-a compromises religious
instruction which could be accept
able to all Christians, Professionals as
we'll as Catholics, l squarely stated
that we cannot accept his PROPOSE
ton, because Catholic parents re-
quire their children to be instruct
ed in the specific Catholic religion
and in no other, be it with Bible
reading or without it. This was q
simple honest statement of Catholic
principles without controversy about
their intrinsic value. However
superior P. Layman's mental facul-
ties may be to mine / dare affirm
that 1 possess fuller knowledge of
my ewn affairs than any outside
party.
1t is not fair to say that l ask q
privilege for the Catholics, but do
ask that the peculiar requirements
of their consciences be respected as
well as the wants of their neighbors.
Under the prevailing circumstances,
the proposition offered by P. Lay
man would practically decide the
whole question in favor of the Pro-
testants while the claims of the
Catholics would be ignored.
In order to avoid misunderstood.
ing, allow me to state clearly that
we'll understand the difficult task OF
the government and of the Board Of
Education in particular, on accoun,
of the mixed population. AS pub
lie schools are, religious instruction
Of any particular denomination
must be excluded. This constitutes
necessary evil for which nobody
can be justly blamed. Nevertheless
we cannot consider it perfect sys
tenn and the good and liberal ough
to combine (unite) for the purpose
of finding remedy,at least in man,
particular cases. The Board o
Education deserves the highes
credit for its recent circular to TIN
school agents, allowing the minister
of religion 10 use the public school
houses for the instruction of tn
children in their respective creeds
This is step in the right direction
the impartial application of jus
principle.
But p. Layman should not b
offended when l proposed remed
by far more eiiicaclous, that O
denominational schools, accordin
to the choice of the children's pal
ents. This is an ideal which on
Board of Education cannot realiz
(by itself ON large scale). Th
initiative is rather the work of til
: churches.
1t may be said that we have flu
liberty to create independent schoo
, at our own expense That libert
seems generous and reasonable {
: first sight and it is quite easy for IL
rich profit by it, but it is not SO cas-
J for the poor when they must first pa
, the school-tax for the public schoo
7 and then pay again for a school
F., their own choice which they col
slider morally necessary for the
children. 1t does not require ver
: skillful lawyer to override any con
plant of those parents-because Il
E public schools are open for all.
t appeal, not to law or lawyer bl
to high sense of justice and to