The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-17
CATHOLICS AND THE REFORM
The Catholics Position Stated BY
Bishop heaIy.

We have been requested to publish the fol-
''"' PORTLAND. Mach 7, 1891.
Dear Sir-I fear that my silence in regard
| to the Catholic boys at the State Reform
School may be construed Into an acquies-
cence with the present management IN re-
gard to their religious instruction. This in
| ference would be entirely wrong.
After the hearing before the Judiciary
committee of the last legislature, we were
under the impression that the trustees were
determined and willing to grant these boys
the facilities which had been enjoyed be-
fore, and which under former superinten::
dent had been productive of the best moral
as we'll as disciplinary effects.
But after several conferences, a written
reply to the rector of the Cathedral. Rev. I.
p. Linehan, Informed us that priests might
visit the Reform School, II they were will
ling to go as Protestant ministers and
preach Protestant doctrine. (For n0n-secta-
rian means nothing else TO Catholics)
I am expressing the exact sense Of the re-
ply from the superintendent, Mr.. Earring
ton, though not his exact words.
As this reply cut off all hope OF redress as
far as the trustees were concerned, we would
have applied in formal manner to the Gov
ernor and Council for change In the rules.
But various talks and conferences had end
ed In nothing hopeful in that direction.
We have also been dissuaded from another
appeal to the legislature by the recollection
OF the Misrepresentation to which our petit
ton and our claims were then subjected. We
were. as you remember, represented as seek
Ing to proselytize Protestant boys, when we,
from the beginning, did not wish to see
them. We were accused of asking more
than otner denominations when In fact we
were asking less as my letters will show.
There were those who published, two years,
a declaration which IL, to say the least, as
founding. They declared that the present
management as to religious services, was
satisfactory to Catholics as well as to- Pro.
testants. Speaking for the 10000 Catholics
OF THIS state, do not hesitate to ask on
what authority such statement was made
for the Catholics. Priests and laity are to
my knowledge so much Of one mind to the
contrary that they are willing to burden
themselves with the support of protectory
to rescue Catholic boys from evil infiuen-
oes.
1t is useless for me to detail our knowledge
OF these influences. might prove that
clothes and food and buildings.are not teach
Ing nor reforming influences, when the mind
Is perverted and the heart corrupted. |
could quote honored names as showing that
behind the mask there is a mass of secret
moral corruption. But l am not before the
leglslaturei am only expressing to you and
by you to others our sense of the Injustice
inflicted and wrong done by an interpreta-
tion OF the rules which thus denies religious
instruction to Catholic children. / say an
Interpretation OF the rules and bylaws; for
1t is clear that the instruction is not asked to
give the teaching of any denomination or
sect. We at least offer to do that for our
own children and In former years we did so
under the same rules and bylaws. And
what good come from this new spirit and in
depreciation? These boys surely need the
influence Of religious principles and moral
training more than any others. and what adj
vantage is expected from the effort to blot out
from their minds and hearts the only infiu-
ence they know and feel, passes the compre-
henst0n OF any except the prejudiced and
and the narrow minded.
LII we are told that they may, in sickness.
see the priest. who can answer for the send
ing? Ii the priest does visit the sick boy, he
must see him in presence of an officer. Is
this prison for the hardened criminal? Or
Is THIS supervision intended for the boy or
the priest?
And when the boy has been made to feel
perhaps for years. that his religion is denied
entrance into the institution will he have the
courage to brave the contempt of the officials,
the sneers of his companions, by asking for
the priest?
What l can tell is this: that priest who
was requested by parents to visit their boy,
was officially informed that he could see him
only In the presence of an officer. | am
writing these details to you that to any fair
minded man who asks the reasons of our
silence, You may be this answer for
JAMES Aug. HEALY,
Bishop of Portland.
March 9Th, in the Portland PRESS, for an ex.
PLANTATION of the end in view, and of the ar
guments which support the present disci-
pline of the Reform School