Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1902-07-05
Wonderful to Realize the Perse-
cutiOn That Has Been
WithstOOd.
No Denomination Approaches
Catholics For Charitable
Institutions.
HAVE THIRTY-ONE FINE CHURCHES

According to the official reports in the
Catholic directories for 1902 there are in
Kentucky about 5000 Catholics-100,-
900 in the diocese of Louisville and $4,000
in the Covington diocese. Louisville has
about so, 600 Catholics.
When one considers the Prosecutions
Catholics have undergone in former years
in this city7-aotably in Knownothing and
A. P. A. times, it is wonderful indeed to
realize what they have accomplished.
The $4,000 Catholics in Louisville have
thirty-one churches, twenty parochial
schools, the finest female educational in
stitutions in the city and college for
boys which is unsurpassed for efficiency
in its particular lines.
The Catholic element of the population
is the equal of any in intellectually, pub
lie spirit and all that goes to make up
good citizenship. 1t might be said that
its membership, taken as a whole, is as
wealthy as any, but this is not material.
1t is to the credit of the Catholic peo-
pie of Louisville, and this is written with
out intending to be boastful or to make
invidious comparisons, that their churches
are the finest in the city, and more people
attend them on Sundays than in all the
other denominations combined. There
are 1900 children daily attending the
various parochial schools. If these chill
dren were forced to attend the public
schools the city would be compelled to
increase its tax rate at least ten cents on
the 800 valuation to educate these chill
dren, but instead the parents pay for the
tuition, saving the city and State the ex-
pense.
Non-Catholics should give due credit
for this, and acknowledge that Catholics
are favorable to education by taxing
themselves voluntarily to pay for it, and
at the same time pay the general tax.
All of this they do without complaint or
protest.
In the matter of charitable institutions
no other denomination approaches the
Catholic church membership for main
tanning asylums, hospitals. homes and
refugees for the poor. No hospital in
Kentucky can compare with st. Joseph's
or with the new hospital of St. Anthony's,
just built. The latter is more of charit-
able institution than the former, and its
good work will soon be felt and appre-
ciated in the whole community regard
less of creed
There is no greater public charity in
the whole State than the home for the
aged and infrm, conducted by the Little
Sisters of the Poor. The good women
who conduct it do not ask the creed of
any man who applies for admission. 1t
is free to all. Few on-Catholics know
the great work these Little Sisters have
accomplished during the years they have
been conducting this institution. Indeed
comparatively few members Of the church
know of it, and it is only referred to here
that people may take deeper interest in
it and encourage the work.
When one looks back to 1855 and re-
calls that churches were threatened with
destruction and the lives of Catholics
were not safe in this city, he must admit
that a wonderful change has come over
the community. Non-Catholics no longer
look with suspicion upon members of the
church. On the contrary, they respect
those who are true to the principles of
their religion. 1t is improbable that ever
again in this community the bitter feel.
ing which once existed will be revived.
By precept and example the Catholic
people of Louisville have shown their
separated brethren that they are worthy
of confidence and respect. This is in
deed gratifying. The era of good feeling
has been brought about more by charity
than anything else. Catholics have al
ways realized that it was only ignorance