Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-08
CATHOLICS AND THE SCHOOLS.
Monsignor sasoln's Address to the American
Archbishope.

Archbishops.
The address Of Monngnor Satolli, papal
leeate. on the school question in this country,
delivered at the recent meeting Of archbishops
at New York. has been made public. He says
Regarding the Instruction Of children:
Absolutely and universally speaking, there
is no repugnance in their learning the first ele-
ments and the higher branches Of the arts and
natural sciences in public schools controlled by
the state whose Office it is to provide and protect
everything by which its citizens are formed to
moral goodness. while they live peaceably to-
gether with suficiency Of temporal goods
under laws propagated by civil auth rity."
But the duty Of parents to zee that their
children have truly Christian and Catholic
education remains, he saws and adds Omitted
with tins duty are the rights Of parents which
no civil law or authority can violate or weaken"
The catholic Church, he maintains. il not
opposed to the public school, but, he says,
"shrtnks from those features of public schools
which are opposed to the truth Of Christianity
and to morality, and since. in the interest Of
society itself, these Objectionable features are
removable, therefore not only the bishops, but
the citizens at large. should labor to remove
them in virtue of their own right and in the
cause of morality"
These Immoral and unchristian" features Of
the public schools are the following:
Purely secular education is given-inasmuch
as 1t excludes all teaching of religion-because
teachers are chosen Unfortunately from every
sect, and no law prevents them from working
the ruin of youth, SO that they are at liberty to
fnstill errors and the germs of vice In tender
minds. Likewise certain corruption seemed to
lmpend from the fact that in these schools or
at least in many of them children of both sexes
are brought together for their lessons in the
same room.
Wherefore, if it be clear that in a given
locality, owing to the wiser dispositions Of
public authorities or the watchful prudence
OF school boards, teachers and parents, the
above named dangers to faith and morals dis
appear, then it is lawful for Catholic parents to
send their children to these schools to acquire
the elements of letters, provided the parents
themselves do not neglect their most serious
duties and the pastors of souls put forth every
effortto instruct the children and train them in
all that pertains to Catholic worship and life.
"As for those Catholic children that in great
numbers are educated in the public schools,
where now, not without danger, they receive
no religious instruction at all. strenuous efforts
should be made not to leave them without
sufficient and seasonabe instruction in Catholic
faith and practice
The adoption of one Of three plans is recon-
rnended. the choice to be made according to
local circumstances in the different states and
varlons personal relations. The first consists
in an agreement between the bishop and the
IN: mbers OF the school board whereby they
allow the Catholic children to be assembl
during free time and taught the catechism.
he second. to have catechism class outside
the public school building and also classes Of
higher Christian doctrine.
The third plan is bound up more intimately
with the duty Of both parents and pastors.
Pastors should INCREASINGLY urge the duty Of
bringing up their children in sound morality
and Catholic faith.
The address concluded with the injunction
that the purely Catholic schools should be fully
equal to the public schools or oven superior.
The knowledge of the truth of every kind
straightforward justice. united with charity
the effulgence and appreciation of the liberal
arts-thesc are the bulwarks OF the church"