The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-11-22
NO POSITIVE OPPOSITION
The Church Simply Wants
Schools In Which Relig-
ion and Morality
Are Taught.
CHURCH AND STATE BUGBEAR.
Catholics Desire No Union-All
Devoted to American In
stitutions.

Icalled upon the Rev. Patrick Henney-
sy, of St. Patrick's Church, and asked
him what he thought of the sermons
which were preached by various clergy
men in the city on Sunday. In which they
attacked the position of the Catholic
Church upon the Public School question.
"The statement of Mr.. Little, of Trinity
Methodist Church, that the Catholic
Church or its membership have any de-
sire TO destroy the public school system
of America, is calumny," declared the
Father with decided emphasis.
Catholics recognize tie many excel
lent features of that system and have 40
desire to destroy it. If the people of the
United States want those schools let
them have them. Many Catholics admire
the public schools. but desire to have
their own schools, where religion and
morality can be taught, as we'll as secular
knowledge. The fact that Catholics are
building their own parochial schools, in-
stead of being declared an attempt to
break down the public school system,
ought to secure for them the confidence
OF the American people. Catholics ought
10 be admired for trying to teach children
morality.
1T CANNOT BE HELPED.
IF the building of schools for Catholic
children interferes with the public
schools it cannot be helped. No fair
minded man can blame the Catholic
Church II it is trying to lncu1cate re-
ligious principles ia its children. That
there u any positive opposition or ax-
gresslon to the public schools upon the
part of Catholics is false. On the con
trary, they consider that the public school
system, with one exception. the lack of
religious training. is simply ad-
mirable. Catholics have no
fault TO fnd with it except
its lack OF religious training. What fair
minded man can blame the Catholic
Church for not being satisfied with the
public schools whers religion is not
taughts What fair-minded man can
blame them for trying to bring about a
modification of our school system, which
Shall be acceptable to all citizens alike.
Catholics consider when they pay taxes
for educational institutions that those in
ShAeAoAOAS 9AoAAA bO as AdE hS QUS5lUs6 DC
cordant to their religious belief. They
consider 1t of the highest Importance tnat
religion should not be disconnected with
learning in the public schools.
Catholics believe that il the American
people took into consideration their
conscientious objections to the public
schools In regard to their lack of religious
teaching, the American people would
undoubtedly, when the matter was
brought home to them. provide a system
of education acceptable TO all classes of
citizens.
WHAT THE NEW YORK CONVENTION DID.
There recently assembled in New
York convention Of the Archbishops of
tae United States aud the main questio
" hich was brought before them was the
one dictated to them by Our Holy Fathe r
Leo XIII; a question which was N OF
optional with them, but which was made
mandatory by the Holy Father Ihe
question did not allow of any discussion
by The prelates; they were simply
ordered by our Holy Rather to
settle it. What was that question?
Our Holy Father having learned from the
most reliable authority, that the great
bulk OF the Catholic children in the
United States were resorting to the pub
lie schools gave directions to the Arch
bishops and Bishops to take the faith In to
Consideration and make special provision
for the children who resorted to the pub
lie schools. III regard to their religious
education.
SIS not thisu ndeniable fact complete
refutation of the fears and accusations of
M Little and strong proof that our
Holy Father Leo XIII. whose admiration
for America and her institutions is well
known. does not wish to antagonize the
public school system of the United
Statesi
THAT CHURCH AND STATE BUGBEAR.
snow. in regard to tnat bugbear of
Church and State, it is sufficient TO say to
MIR. Little that there is not single lay
Cstholic, priest, Bishop, Archbishop or
Cardinal in the United States who is not
entirely and utterly opposed to the union
of Church and State in this country.
The Catholic Church is free here, thanks
to our admirable republican system, and
she wants no union with the State. All
she does want is freedom and protection
from the Government, which she has.
Can this be said of those countries where
there is such union OF Church and
) atef In those countries the Church is
not free, and our Holy Father is obliged
to make concordats with them in order
that the Church may have modicum of
freedom.
But in the United States we have no
need of concordats. The Holy Father
has frequently declared that ths Catholic
Church has all Tie freedom in the United
Btates she wants, aud all Catholics with