The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-23
EUROPE'S CHURCH WAR.
A CATsOLIo PRELATE TALKS OF
TIE SCHOOL QUESTION.

The German Center on the Point of
Resuming It's Campaign in Behalf OF
the Claims Of the Church Touching
Education IN the Primary Schools.
The Situation In Other Countries.
BERLIN, Deo 29.--A Catholic priest, who
is deeply interested ia the subject OF public
education. gives the following review OF the
policy OF the church toward state schools
aud OF the present condition OF the school
question in the principal countries In
Europe; "The German center, favored hy
the present exceptionally parliamentary
situation, is on the point Of resuming, both
in the Reichstag and In press, its campaign
In behalf Of the right OF the church touch-
ing education In the primary schools Since
the resignation Of Prince Bismarck
great reconciliation has been brought
about between the Catholics and government
and emperor. The center is now resolved
to give ardent support 20 Emperor Will
Jams social reforms, and to his general
policy which Is commonly designated the
new course Aided by their advantageous
position In the Reichstag aud seconded by
the episcopate Of the entire country, tho
center deputies are going TO make an effort
to secure for the church wider influence In
the public schools. This programme Of the
deputies and Of the bishops does not propose
that the church shall have free schools over
which the state is 10 have no right but il
simply asks for the church the restoration
OF the position held by her in the public
schools prior to 1873.
ADMISSION OF THE CHURCH.
"In order TO reach q thorough under
standing OF this campaign, which was
begun some time ago by Herr Windthorst,
one should remember that the church In no
wise denies the right Of the state over the
schools, but does deny the right Of the state
TO exclude the corporation OF the church.
What the Catholics Of Germany have
and state should cooperate peace
ably and harmoniously in the man.
agement Of secular and religious
education. Whom DIR. Kopp, the bishop OF
Breslau, and the representative Of the holy
see Ia German affairs, went to Rome TO
confer with the pope be steadfastly de-
fended this, claiming that the state school
principle should not be discussed. Tho
bishops, in their conferences at Fulda,
adopted the same programme which the
center now proposes TO carry OUT in
the Reichstag.
AUsTRIA'B POLICY.
IA similar policy has been adopted by
the church Of Austria. For the past four
years Austria Catholics, under the guidance
of Prince Liechtenstein, have constantly
acknowledged the same principles and
defended the same doctrine. In the Reichs-
rathe, In the senate and al the conferences
OF the bishops they have ever been unani-
nous In demanding that the government
should show due respect for the rights of
the church, though never Questioning the
states own rights.
FRANCES SCHOOLS NoN-sECTARIAN.
"In France legislation has entirely BAN
ished religious instruction from the public
| schools, which are nou-sectarian, gratuitous
and compulsory. At the time Of the par
liamontary discussions on the law, espe-
cially during those In the senate, the Catho-
| lie members, without ceasing TO adhere TO
tho new system, sought to secure the rights
of both the church and state by proposing
divers amendments. These efforts, how
ever, ell came to naught owing TO the op-
position of the republican party.
ITALY's LAW.
''In Italy scholastic legislation is regu.
lated by royal decree, In virtue Of which
| every township is required to have public
school which is obligatory and Ia which re-
| ltgious instruction Is given to those children
only whose parents expressly demand it
| This law is very troublesome
and very preiudicial, for religious
instruction is thereby made to depend en-
tirely upon municipal boards and
upon the way In which the law is
applied. At Milan and at Rome, recourse
has been had TO a popular vote In the hope
Of facilitating religious instruction and Of
obtaining some remedy for the present
state of affairs, Ia which great majority Of
parents negligently forget to make bhe ex-
plicit demand required by law. With
view Of having the law applied in this
sense and to procuring religious instruction
for the greatest possible number OF children
the pope has given permission TO Italian
Catholics to take part in the administrative
elections In Rome itself the pope has
founded great many free schools, but they
absorb considerable money and the same
plan could not be successfully executed el e.
where. Hence concerted effort
is everywhere being made to
promote religious instruction In
the public schools by prudent
compliance with the circumstances. From
the facts here given it would appear (D
that the Catholic church does not practi-
cally contest the right Of the state over the
primary schools, and that this implied
recognition is especially admitted in Ger
man-speaking countries; (2) that the church
everywhere strives to have religious in
struction given In the public schools by
adapting herself TO the existing laws; %
the church never condemns to deprivation
of the sacraments those who send their
children TO public schools In which there Is
no immediate aud certain danger to faith
or morals; ~ that state school in which
religious instruction is given seems to be
the practical idol Of the Catholic parties of
the continent