The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-10-29
MONDAY, OCT. 30, 1888.
The CATHOLICS & The SCHOOLS.

EDITOR BULLETIN Last Fridays
advertiser" has an article penned
by A Protestant Layman in reference
to my communication in the BULLE-
TIN of the 10th inst. The writer has
read my article with attention and 1
am greatly pleased with his gentle
way Of presenting his views, though
they differ from mine. Therefore
1 take pleasure in discussing with
him the subject of religious teaching
in the public schools with the same
honest desire that animates him, TO
aid in shedding light upon q matter
of the highest Importance.
If p. Layman will read DR..
Hyde's article on the Kohala cores
pondence, he will allow that my
criticism was not without founda-
ton. Should / have misunderstood
the Doctors idea, it was certainly
in perfect good faith and it would
make no material difference in the
main argument, for it was not the
person of DR.. Hyde or anybody else
l aimed at L wished to discuss
question: principle. The article
of the Rev. gentleman who appears
in the papers as one of the promi-
nent representatives of the largest
Protestant sect in Honolulu deter
mined merely the form of my an
swer, which is the application of
very old principles to the actual
condition of these Islands. Far
from introducing extraneous mat
ters for the purpose of confusing the
question, l desire, on the contrary,
to throw the broadest light possible
on the main question which as such
is necessarily connected with other
questions. There is something to be
reformed in the whole system of
education.
Protestant Layman understands
we'll my position, which is that of
the Catholic Church generally. We
ask for the Catholic children Sin
struction in the distinctive doctrines
of the Catholic Church, and in the
duties which that church, and that
church only, holds to be incumbent
on its members. Instruction in the
fundamental doctrines which are
held in general by all Christians,
both Catholic and Protestant, would
not be accepted as satisfactory"
have already stated in my argu
mentation against DR.. Hyde that
there are many points of agreement
between Catholics and Protestants
in theological doctrines and nearly
all the practical duties of life. Z.
Layman quotes considerable num-
ber of articles as being equally ac-
cepted by both parties. Now, allow
me to give few reasons why in
struction in those, excluding specific
Catholic doctrine, is not, and cannot
be satisfactory to Catholics.
l. We must expect to have many
Protestant teachers who would not
believe, much less teach, the whole
doctrinal programme of our pious
Layman.
2. Suppose Protestant teacher
be strong believer in all those doc.
trines, his teaching would be un.
avoidably colored by his own pre-
judices against what he himself
would regard as superstition o.
abomination. Now, would he, as al
honest and earnest Protestant, b.
able to refrain from warning his
pupils against Popish errors?
3. p. Layman numbers among
the points of agreement" the great sa
craments of Baptism and the Lord''
Supper" But there is an immens'
difference, especially about thu
Lords Supper.
a. Marriage being the keystone
of Christian society, we differ essen
TALLY on the divorce question.
8. Let us suppose teachel
highly learned and so delicate in hi:
sense of justice that he utters NJ
word contrary to the Catholic faith
But, what guarantee have the chill
dren and their parents that he really
teaches the genuine Catholic doc
trine? For the Catholics a teacher
Of religion must have a mission, MOI
from the secular or lay Board o.
Education, but from the churcl
authority.
6. +. Layman agrees with me in
admitting the universal sinfulness Of
men, the redemption by Jesus
Christ and the salvation by his mer-
its. But there remains an essentia
question on which Catholics ant
Protestants widely differ, / meal
the practical side of the question
Under what conditions and by wha
means are the merits of Christ ap
piled to the individual man for hi
salvation?
z. 1t is not sufficient to have
right notion Of the creed childre
need besides the theoretical instrut
ton also practical training for thei