Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-19
CATHOLIC PROTESTS.

At the Roman Catholic Educational
conference In Chicago, the speakers ut
tered loud complaints against the
American school system They stated
that Catholics were compelled TO pay
taxes for schools, OF which their chill
dren had no benefit, and suggested that
the state should recognize Catholic
schools, on the same basis as other edu.
catlonal institutions. that receive
financial aid.
One of the speakers, Mgr. Conaty.
put It rather strongly. IN this harangue.
Eve are not here by sufferance, but
we are here as American citizens de-
manding our right. We are not asking
for favor; all we want is justice. We
want recognition as citizens and tax
payers In school affairs. We believe
that no true education Is possible with
out religious instruction and we have a
right to insist upon our demands There
is no doubt that nearly all the educa-
tionol laws enacted by the states are
aimed at the Catholic school system. 1t
is our duty both TO ourselves and our
ing until our objections are needed,
The position of the Catholics in this
country, on the important school ques-
ton, should be noticed. II may be true
that all Catholics do not take the view
expressed by Mgr, Conaty, but It Is also
true that his church sees In the secular
ntFet 20.
and the state, and that II she had the
power the citizens would be taxed for
the benefit OF schools In which Roman
ism ls taught. Catholics are not alone
in their position toward secular schools,
hut In this country there are presum-
ably few outside that church, who
would not consider It an injustice to
maintain from public funds one denom-
nation in preference TO another.
The secular school system has come
into existence, because the lnconsist-
ency Of taxing all for the benefit Of
some he they Catholics, Jews.
or Protestants, is generally
acknowledged That religious in
struction should go hand In hand with
secular education is true. But as long
as perfect religious liberty demands
non-interference by the state. the re-
llgious training must be left 10 the
various denominations themselves. This
is the right Mr.. Conaty has. In common
with all American citizens. That Is the
only right In the matter he can demand
the right to use the common schools
for Catholic children, and to establish
as many private schools as may be
needed. AS long as that right is not
violated there Is no ground for pro-
tests, or for impassioned oratory.
Fear is expressed sometimes that the
American school system will bring forth
a nation of atheists, but we believe so
far this country compares favorably
both In faith and morals with the
European countries, where religion
classes are taught, the same as mathe
MATES, or geography and history. I'm
Hlctullty nOuilsIlts III l-uIOpti dS mere,
Infdelity Is not less frequent there than
here. The religious life OF those who
are sincere Is as intense on this side OF
the ocean as on that. The trouble in
European schools Is, that the teaching
OF religion is very often entrusted to
men who have no religion themselves,
who contradict in their daily lives, the
teachings they give as matter Of rou-
tine. The result is great deal Of
hypocricy Pupils are more prone to
initiate examples than TO follow pre-
cepts. Religion cannot, strictly speak
ing, be taught. 1t must be experienced,
and only those who are themselves
permeated by the life OF religion. can
inspire 1t in others. Between a school
system that does not NEEDLE with re-
ligion at all, and one that gives a form
OF 1t without it's substance-the shell
and not the kernel-the former Is pre-
ferable.