The record-union., 1892-12-12
THE CHURCH AND THE SCHOOLS.

The Papal Legate has just announced
officially the position Of the church toward
the public schools. We publish this
manifesto in full in another col
umn. 1t sdoes not differ materially
from what has been previously de-
clared by church authority. In brief.
the Catholic Church objects to continuous
education of Catholic children in the pub-
lie schools because the teachers are chosen
regardless of faith because religious in
struction is not part of the school course.
and because the classes are mixed-boys
and girls in the same class.
There is an intimation that teaching
children elemental branches in non-sec-
tartan schools is not objected to. but the
church claims the right to have the chill
dren of Catholic parents in parochial
schools, or under religious teaching while
their minds are still plastic and before
they have formed beliefs as to religion.
and this right we have never heard dis
puted.
Attention is called by the legate to the
Pope's declaration that Catholics in the
United States should influence school an
thorities to conduct public schools in
way not prejudicial to conscience or re-
ligion: suggestion that no one objects
to, and that would seem to be unneces-
sary. One paragraph of this letter is
quoted which has more significance than
any other; that is that his holiness the
Pope does not think that hereafter "any-
one who looks at the matter clearly will
let Catholic parents be forced to erect and
support schools which they cannot use
for the instruction of their children"
This can mean only a claim for division
of school funds as a final resort. If not
that, then the paragraph is meaningless.
If that is, then, the only Interpretation to
which the sentence is susceptible, an old
issue is again joined, that has been moro
or less debated for half century, but not
before so distinctly made.
However, there is in the words of the
legate following this quotation an ap-
parent expression of willingness not to
force the issue, if Catholics will strive for
teachers places in the public schools; If
school authorities will permit Catholic
children in free hours" to be assembled
for catechism exercises, and if catechism
classes are maintained by church author
tiles outside of the public schools.
So far as division of school funds is
all, that such a policy and the mainte-
nance of the free school system are in
natural antagonism. Both cannot be set
up, and the American people will not
permit the attempt to be made.
Bachelors might as well ask to be ex-
empt from school taxes; childless couples
lay the same claim; the various sects
each insist upon exemption, and so on.
The public schools are maintained at
general public cost to provide purely
secular and mainly elemental instruc-
ton, as part of the work of promoting
the growth of good citizenship. The
State has no animositytoward any re-
ligion; it does not by its educational sys-
tenn trench upon conscience or permit to
be made single effort to turn the child
from the religion of his fathers.
The claim that in free hours' Catholic
children should be separately assembled
is an old one, and so far as we know it
has never been denied, if such assembly
did not interfere with school sessions and
duties. Just what is meant by free
hours" however, is not exactly clear.
The public school system exercises no
control over the child in free hours.v
Nor is there anything to prevent religion
lists seeking positions as public school
teachers. They are in the schools now
by the ten thousand, and in examina-