Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-01-02
New Series, Vol. 80, No 1
SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS


Cleveland Leader.
The authorities of the Roman Catholic
Church have made application to thu
Board of University Regents of New
York State for share in the funds an
nually distributed by them to various
educational institutions. 1t is announc-
ed that they mean to make determined
effort to secure their pro rata share of
this money for the parochial schools.
The funds under the control of this
board are now used for the support of
The non -sectarian schools of the State
and the policy of the board has always
been to enforce an organization of the
schools Independent of any religious
association and freedom from sectarian
or like influences in their operation.
This is, of course, directly antagOnistic
to the paroehial school idea, but the
Romanists intend to fight the case Bit
terly Notwithstanding, and hope by hook
or crook to get some of the public money
for the upbuilding of their church and
the extension of its influence.
The issue thus precipitated will be
watched with interest The claim put
forward is only what Cardinal Gibbons
and other ROmish prelates have repeat
edly asserted, and it is by no means sur
priSing that the Romish Church should
have decided to make fight for it in
New York State, where political influ-
ence is likely to be a powerful agent in
their favor. The whole theory upon
which this demand is made is that the
State should officially recognize different
denominations and give them their pro
rata share of the school funds whenever
any denomination demands it. Such a
theory is directly opposed to one of the
fundamental ideas of our government
the entire separation of church and
state. The ROmish authorities Justify
it on the assumption that the church is
first, the state second; that Roman Cath
Olics owe their duty to Rome, a duty to
which allegiance to the country is sec
state it so boldly as this, but they make
their meaning clear. To yield to their
demand would be virtual recognition
of the church by the state, thing not
contemplated by the Constitution and
opposed to American ideas. There is
no reason why The government, either
State or national, should pay any atten-
tion to differences in religious belief, and |
to do so by subsidizing Romish parochial
schools would be to create precedent
and make beginning that would be
dangerous and tend to eventually destroy
perfect religious freedom.
The educational side of the question |
is more open to discussion. In general /
the present non-sectarian public schools
are in harmony with our national idea
of the separation of church and state,
and the work of these schools is vastly
superior to that of the parOchial schools.
But the Romish power in this country
persists in its efforts to obtain public
support for sectarian education and to
condemn our free public school system.
Even here, however, the ROmanists have
little room for sound objections, as is
shown by the sophistical and misleading
character of the arguments they employ.
To minimize the weakness of the raro-
chial school and apologize for them, to
0verstate the "godlesS" nature of the
public school, and to magnify the value
Of catechism and like religious instruct
ion is the summation of their plea, and
it is as weak as it is selfish.
The New York demand is only the
display of the real cOlOrs of Romanism.
1t proves the aggressive character of the
ROmish hierarchy in this country and
shows that the determination is not to
let this question rest. The parochial
school issue will not down. The Romish
Church is determined it shall not until
it is settled whether or not the people
will submit to ROmish construction of
The Constitution, to practical union of
church and state, which, in the words of
| writer in the Catholic World, "the
Catholic Church reaches ont for" and
% priestly domination. We are glad
he issue is being made. The sooner it
S the more certain is RomiSh defeat
md the triumph of American ideas and
American institutions.