The evening times., 1900-02-05
MUST NOT TEACH CLASSICS.
TIE Decision Mt Rome Against the
Christian BROTHERS,

Christian Brothers.
NEW YORK. Feb. 5.-Dehnite news has
just been received in this city as to TIE
decision of the authorities OF the Catho-
tic Church in Rome in the case OF the
Christian Brothers. who appealed from the
order of their French superiors command
ing them to cease teaching the classics in
their schools and colleges in this country.
When it was announced by cable a few
weeks ago that the Roman authorities had
decided against the Brothers the hope was
expressed by their friends here that the
case was not so bad as was reported
Rome correspondent says that not only
have the American Brothers lost at Rome,
but that there is not the slightest hope f-r
a modification Of the verdict
THE Propaganda" writes the CORE
spondent, met. in plenary assembly. has
reached unanimous decision in the mat
Ter: the decision has been submitted TO
and approved by the Holy Father. and
though the question is neither d1cfrinal
nor disciplinary, st. AuguStine's famous
phrase is once more in order: Roma lOcuta
est. eausa fnita est fRome has spoken.
and the matter has ended. Henceforth the
Christian Brothers of America. as well IS
tfNi tISt, uusL utOp Tie tEdtHiHR OF
ire classics from the curriculum. This
time there is on loophOie CT escaps-any
Brothers who refuse to submit have only
one alternative left them-that OF leaving
the congregation"
Friends of the Brothers in this country
have repeatedly declared that in the event
OF an adverse decision from Rome they
would be forced to sever their connection
with the French order and establish an
out -and-out American community. Such a
step was thought to be not only possible
but probable, as it was believed all the
American Brothers were against the de-
cree of their French superiors. The Rome
correspondent declares however. that such
a change is impossible because the au-
thorities at Rome would not allow il. He
says:
''It has been surmised that in the ny
pothesis of this decision the American
Brothers would appeal 10 Rome TO have
their status recognized separate con
gregatiOn and be allowed TO retain pos
session of the schools which they have
created. But | am in position 10 state
that no such concession will be granted.
Nor indeed apart from my authoritative
information on the subject would such
concession be al all likely in the light of
some of the facts which came out during
the searching investigation made by the
''In the first place. IL was erroneous TO
style Archbishop Riordan as the represen-
tative Of the American hierarchy. When
Bishop Byrne came here in the early part
of last year he was the representative of
less than half Of the American hierarchy
-forty-fo four bishops out of total OF abOu-
100. Archbishop Riordan had still fewer
behind him. He expressed the views Of
only thirty-two bishops
sTs, oFf ha= ru-r,
only six could be said 20 be directly in
terested in the question having Chris
tian Brothers schools in their diOceses-
The adhesion OF the other Jwenty-=ix was
OF complimentary and platonic charac-
ter and as such carried lifFle or no weight
with the Cardinals and cOnsUitO.s OF the
Propaganda
Moreover in the searching examination
made by the Sacred Congregation the ex-
traCrdinary fact came out that. far from
there being substantial unity of feeling
the question amCng he American Brothers
themselves. the majority of them were in
favor of leaving classical education to oh
er hands and conforming themselves 10 the
letter and spirit of their rule. the will OF
their higher superiors and the decree is
sued by the Propaganda many years ago.
IL will thus be seen that the decision Just
reached was the only one pO sib'e under
the circumstances.
FrieEds of the S'rotheIs declare that the /
Brothers will nov be forced TO abandon
their academies and colleges in the United
States. since no Catholic students will care
to attend institutions Of secondary educs- /
tiOn where the classics are not taught In
this city the Christian Brothers teach the 4
classics in Manhattan College. Broadway
and West 132d Street. and in the De La 4
Sale Institute in West Fifty-ninth Street ,