The morning call., 1892-12-08
DIRECT FROM ROME.
Cardinal Satolli Talks to
the Archbishops.
AMERICAN. PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Under Certain Conditions Catholic
Parents ray Send Their Chill
dren to Them.
Special TO THE MORNING CALI

ST. Louis, No.. Dec. THE following is
a synopsis of the address OF Monsignor
Satolli. delivered at recent meeting of the
Archbishops in New York, on the subject
of settling the school question: "In the
Catholic church is vested the divine right
OF instructing the young, in SO far as theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Hence. absolutely
and universally speaking. there is a repug-
nance TO the young learning the first ele-
ments and the higher branches in the pub
lie schools con trolled by the State. For the
rest, the provisions of the Council OF Balti-
more are yet in force. and, In a general
way, will remain so. United with the duty
OF procuring truly Christian and Catholic
education for their offspring are the rights
of parents, which no civil law or authority
can violate or weaken. The Cath Ollie church
in general. and especially the Holy See, de-
sires that by the Joint act of tie civil and
ecclesiastical authorities there should be
public schools in every State, but the Cath
olic church shrinks from those features of
the public schools which are opposed to the
truth of Christianity. Not long since the
Holy See decrecd that the parish schools
and other institutions under the direction
OF the Bishops were opportune and neces-
sary from the fact that it held that certain
Of the schools bore within themselves
proximate danger to the faith aud morals
because of the purely secular education
given In them, because the teachers were
chosen indiscriminately from the sects
and because no law prevents them working
the ruin of the youth. Likewise certain
corruption seems to impend from the fact
that the children of both sexes were brought
together in the same room for lessons.
har raf, e Il. a.
locality the above-named dangers disap-
pear. then it is lawful for Catholic parents
to send their children to these schools. pro-
vided the parents themselves do not neglect
their most serious duty. and provided the
pastors put forth every effort and instruct
the children and train them in all that per-
tains to Catholic worship and life.
at will be well therefore to establish
weekly classes for the catechism, which all
of the children Of the parish should attend
1t Is greatly to be desired. and will be
most happy arrangement il the Bishops
agree with the civil authorities or with the
members Of the School Board to conduct
the schools with mutual attention and due
consideration for respective rights"
Satolli then quoted the Pope's letter on
the subject to the Archbishop of New York
and to the outside Bishops.
The adoption Of one of three plans was
recommended, the cnoice 10 be made ac-
corcing to local circumstances in the differ
ent States and the various personal relations.
The first consists o. an agreement between
the Bishop and the membe rs OF the School
Board whereby they shall allow Catholic
children TO assemble during free time and
be taught the cateebism. The second is TO
have the catechism class outside the public
school building, aud also classes for the
higher Christian doctrine, The third plan
Is bound up more intimately with the duty
Of both parents and pastors. The pastors
should increasingly urge upon parents the
most important duty OF bringing up chill
dren in sound morality and In the Catholic
faith. Let the pastors have classes Of chill
dren in the parish, nor let them show less
love for the children that attend the public
schools than for those who attend the paro-
chial On the contrary. strong marks of
loving sol.citude are to be shown them.
For the standing and growth OF the Catho-
lie schools ii seems that care should be
taken that the teachers prove themselves
qualified, not only by previous examination
before diocesan board, but also by having
teachers diplomas from the School Board
Of the State. For the sake of the Catholic
cause, let there be among laymeD growing
rivalry to take diplomas, so that. possessed
of knowledge and qualifications requisite
for teaching. they may compete for and
honorably obtain positions in the public
gymnasia, lyceums and scientific instltu-
tons.
The speech was thoroughly considered at
the meeting of the Archbishops.