The record-union., 1894-02-10
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the SectarIan Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

"The Protestant press draws various
conclusions from the Catholic letters on
the public school SYSTEM" says the New
York Independent. "There is general
agreement IN accepting the statement of
the Bishops that Catholics make no de-
mand for division of the public school
funds or for the recognition of denomina-
tional schools as a part of the State sys-
tenn, and do not desire the destruction of
the system. a few of the opinions as
sumo that all Catholics are Jesuits, and
all Jesuits dissemble and conceal their
real intentions and are therefore never to
be believed. OF course nothing that the
Catholic prelates could say would be ac-
cepted by this class of extremists, who
are as irreconcilable as they believe the
Jesuits to be. Taking the let
ters Just as they are and in their obvious
meaning, the anxious defender of the
public school can find in them sufficient
TO make an issue. They are, for exam
pie, almost as one in holding that the de-
nominational system of other countries
is better than our secular system. On
this point il is not possible for US to agree
with them; and we tell them, courteOusly
but firmly, that we will oppose with ar
gument and with the ballot, if it should
come to the polls, any proposition to
make our secular schools Sectarlan,
whether it come from Catholic or Protest
ant. The convictions of the American
people is profound and unshakable on this
point, and Catholics are coming to recOg-
nize it. and are preparing to govern them
selves accordingly. What other interpre-
tation can be given to their declaration
that they will not demand that the State
adopt their parochial schools or relieve
them of taxation? This is their acknowl-
edgment of the strength Of public Opin-
ion"
''In response to request from the IN
dependent thirty-one Bishops of the Ro-
man Catholic Church in this country
have stated, with more or less clearness,
their attitude towards our public school
system" says the New York Observer.
(Pres.). "The Romish hierarchy know
very well what the policy OF their church
is respecting this subject, and they also
know how to illustrate and defend the pol
icy. The question which was addressed
TO them is plain and direct; their an
swers, for the most part, involved and
evasive. Every intelligent American
knows that the Romish hierarchy in this
country would be glad to secure a divis-
ion of the public school FUND.- for their
own sectarian uses. They have heard re-
Gently from the American people, how
ever, and they are wise enough to see
that it would be bad policy to agitate
this question for the present. Some of
the Bishops have frankly said so. . .
In view of these statements we cannot
understand why our contemporary should
say-'It is plain that if they had the pow
er to blot the public school system en-
tirely out of existence and leave educa-
ton to voluntary effort, they would not
do so.' This may be true. so far as Ro-
man Catholic laymen are concerned, but
it is manifest, from their published let
ters. that the prelates and priests Of the
Romish Church would, if they could.
blot out of existence our system of pub
lie education. Bishop Heslin voices the
doctrine of his church on the subject
when he says: The present public system
is virtually a persecution of Catholics