The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-14
Roman Catholics and Education.

Roman Catholics and Education.
Tho Roman Catholic educational policy is
brought into prominence by the Vatican
deliverance concerning Archbishop IRE
LANDS plan or experiment Of leasing to tho
public school boards two parochial schools
in the Minnesota towns OF Faribault and
Saltwater.
The scheme Of Archbishop IRELAND has
months past, the division Of Catholic opin-
ion with regard to it having been very de-
cided. On Aug. 81. 1891. Father COMFY. the
Roman Catholic pastor OF the parish Of tho
immaculate Conception ut Faribault. "in
consideration OF one dollar" placed its
parochial school under the management
and control OF the Board Of Education I"
OF the town, 1.-The same to be used by
said Board for educational purposes under
such conditions as that Board may deter
mine to be for the best intcrestSf all con-
cerned." The parochial school of st. Mi
chael's ut Saltwater was similarly trans
fcrred. on slightly modified terms.
This arrangement as explained by Its
advocates. was experimental only. the in
tention being that II it should not
prove satisfactory to the parties to
the contract. after ono years trial. it
should cease. and the schools revert to
their original state. The object In
making it. OF course. was to relieve
tho parishes OF the heavy burden OF
expense involved In running the schools. 1t
is explained further that though tho text
books now used are uniform with those re-
qulred In the public schools generally. they
were examined by the parish priest to see
that they did not contain any matter de-
rOgatory to the Catholic Church." OF course,
he has no power as to tho appointment
OF teachers and tho fixing OF standards;
but it is said that when tho school at Fari-
bault passed under the management of the
Board OF Education they retained tho SER
vices OF tho Dominicans previously en-
ployed as teachers. The religious instruc-
ton OF the children Is provided for by teach
ing the catechism for thirty minutes outside
OF tho school hours.
Such Is the statement OF the case from the
side OF Archbishop IRELAND. His expert
ment Is defended as practical scheme to
allow Roman Catholics to benefit by the
school funds. to which they are compelled to
contribute. and to save them from tho addl-
tional and enormous expense OF maintain
ing schools OF their own. BY tho now ar
rangemeat. too. it Is commended, tho
religious instruction requisite for Ro-
man Catholic approval OF any sys-
tenn OF education is still provided.
the only change being that the teaching OF
the catechlsm Is now outside OF school
hours instead OF inside OF them rs before.
1t appears. also. that while tho plan is Of
fcnsive to tho convictions OF many Catho-
lies. it Is denounced even more severely by
the Protestant ministers OF Minnesota as
fatal concession to Catholicism. This Prot
estant opposition has gone to the extent OF
threatening to enjoin the school officers
from executing the plan.
1t seems. however, that In other States
similar or analogous arrangements have
been made. At Poughkeepsie. In this State.
tho Board OF Education. about seventeen
years ago. assumed tho control OF two
parochial schools OF st. Peters Romas
Catholic Church, leasing them for tho NOM
inal consideration Of one dollar and agree
ing to pay the cost OF maintenance.
They were conducted the same MS the
other public schools. only that the
parish reserved tho privilege OF using the
buildings for Its own purposes Of religious
instruction outside OF school hours. At
Macon. in Georgia, tho Catholics provide
school building to be used for public
school purposes; they elect as It's teachers
Sisters Of Mercy or other members OF the
Roman Catholic Church. and they receive
in it chi'drct Of their faith from all parts