The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-14

and girls at the high schools. IexDressed
my fear that If this were not done sucn
pupils would either lave to abandon all
further study or they and their parents
would be forced into an attitude OF OPP
position to pastor and Bishop. | do not
question the fact that the Bishop was the
Judge of the validity of the excuse Tor
sending a child TO the public school. put
/ urged hat the Bishop must recognize
the validity of the excuse when the eX-
cuse is VIGOROUSLY valid.
The Pope in 1875 said there may be cir
cumstances that justify parents in send
ing their children to schools where there
is even remote danger to their faith, and
much more so where such danger is not
supposed to exist. The circumstances
are:-Firstly, where nc church school ex-
lists; secondly, where such q church school
does exist, but is little suited TO the con
v%enience or condition of adOlescent
pupils. The Council of Baltimore, hav-
ing quoted the words OF the Pope, says
tsWhen, therefore, on account of suffi-
Client cause and approved by the Bishop,
parents wish to send their children to the
public schools, provided prominate dan
ger be removed, we strictly charge that
no bishop or priest, which the Pope,
through the Sacred Congregation. posi-
lively forbids, shall dare by act or threat
to repel such parents from the sacra-
ments. as If unworthy. This must be
said much more so of the children them
selves. "ganThis is very clear.
/ may fefer here to a new and very seri-
Gus difficulty that is beginning to menace
our parochial free schools, arising from
the Commanding spirit hat is assuming
extraordinary proportions in this diocese.
When a German pastor is in control, the
parochial school is generally a pay school.
This virtually drives the poor, who most
need religious instruction, into the public
cohaolc ,Trn1ooo fbou anpfacc THAR nou0rtu
and are, in consequence of this confess
sion, admitted gratis, or as mere paupers,
into their w schools. This a humilia-
ton few Americans are willing to make
even to the priest.
This little Jersey earthquake may do
much good by attracting universal atten-
ton to the actual laws of the Church.
There is nothing in the law to create OPP
position on the part of u w people,
much less on that of the public, and the
Church is not responsible for the uni
versal indignation lately displayed by the
non-Catholic press. The difficulty is only
local, and there is no friction in other dio-
ceses. 1t is hardly wise to irritate the
American people by unnecessary agita-
ton of this sore question, for we are only
creating public opinion against ourselves;
and public opinion in this country has
the force of law. The great Catholic
countries of Europe have closed most of
Dle OuurCu SC4OOlS. Ihdy We CApcCb
more from the non-Catholics h al from
our owns? The United States is the very
paradise of the Church. and if we lose
Che freedom of education we now enjoy
it will be because of our own want of
even common sense. Let well enough
alone. There is no Culturkampf here,
and they who invoke it are not the friends
of Mother Church or Of the United States.
Most of those who are responsible for
public indignation against the Church
have never had, as o general rule, that
rare experience arising from personal con-
troll of great parishes or great ~parochial
schools.
have touched on matters of great mo-
ment to the Church in this country, and
especially in this diocese, and in a spirit
of true loyalty to both. Those who are
thoroughly acquainted with the country
and the status of the Church here will
not find fault with my remarks.
p. CORRIGAN,
Church Of Our Lady of Grace, Hoboken,
March II.