The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-22

Catholic instruction Of tho young. He
added, moreover, that these decreea. in
so far as they contain a general rule Of
action, are faithfully to be observed,
and that although the public schools
arc not to he entirely condemned. still
every effort should be made to multiply
Catholic schools and bring them TO per
feet equipment. But in order that in
n matter OF so great Importance there
may remain no room OF doubt or DIS
sensions OF opinions, as we have already
declared in our letter OF the 2Srd OF May
OF last year to our brethren, the arch.
bishops and bishops Of the province OF
New York, SO we again, as far as need
be, declare that the DEGREES which the
Baltimore councils, agreeable to dlrec-
tions OF the holy see, have enacted con-
cerning the parochial schools, and what
ever else has been prescribed by the
Roman pontiflcs, whether directly or
through the sacred congregations, con-
corning the same matter, are to be
steadfastly observed.
Wherefore, We confidently hope that
having put away every cause OF error
and all anxiety, you will work together
with hearts united in perfect charity
for the wider spread OF the kingdom oil
God in your immense country.
But while laboring industriouely for
the glory OF God and the salvation OF
souls entrusted to your care, strive also
to advance the welfare Of your fellow
citizens, and to prove the earnestness
OF your love for your country, go that
they who were entrusted with the ad-
ministration of the government may
clearly recognize how strong an in
huence tor the support of public order
and for the advancement OF public pros
perity Is TO be found in the Catholic
church.
Given at Rome, from St, Peters, on
the 3lst day OF May in the year 1893,
the sixteenth year OF our pontiticRte.
(signed) LEO XIII, Pope.
To understand fully the force and
meaning OF this communication it is
necessary to read with it the chief parts
of Mgr. Satolli's address at the meeting
OF archbishops in New York last fall.
The gist OF his proposals is found in the
following excerpts from that address:
ITO the Catholic church belongs the
duty and the divine righto teaching all
nations to believe the truth OF the gos'
pei and to observe whatsoever ChrisE
commanded Matt. xxyii-l9). In her
likewise is vested the divine right OF In
structing tho young in so fur as theirs Is
tho kingdom OF heaven. :.
That is to say she holds for herself
tho right OF teaching the truths OF faith
and the law OF morals in order to bring
up youth in the habits Of Christian, life.
Hence, absolutely and universally
speaking there is no repugnance in
their learning the first clements and
the higher branches OF the arts and
natural sciences in the public schools
controlled by the state, whose office if
to provide, maintain and protect every.
thing by which its citizens are formed
to moral goodness, while they live
peaCeably together with q sufticiency oi
temporal goods under the laws promul'
gated by civil authority
The Catholic church in general, and
especially the holy sec, far from con
demning or treating with indifference
the public schools, desires rather that
by the joint action OF civil and ecclesias'
tical authorities there should be public
schools in every state according as the
circumstances Of tho people require
for tho cultivation Of tho useful art!
and natural sciences, but the Catholic
church shrinks from those features o.
public schools which arc opposed to the
truth of Christianity and to morality
and since, in the interest OF society itself
these Objectionable features are re-
movable, therefore, not onlythe bishops
but tho citizens at large should labor tC
remove thom in virtue Of their owl
right and in the cause Of morality.
It is greatly desired and will be
most happy arrangement II the bishoE
agreed with tho civil authorities orwitt
the members OF the school board Il
conduct tho school with mutual atten
ton and due consideration for their re
spectiye rights. While there are teach
ers of any description for the secula
branches who are legally inhibited
from offering Catholic religion and mo
rality let tho right aud duty Of thu
church obtain OF teaching tn
childrens' catechism in order to remov
danger to their faith and morals fror
any quarter whatever