The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-07
A Catholic Demands Rel gious Education.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN--.Sir. You say
that 1T is cOntended that because of the abb
sence of religious teaching in the schools, the
children from them are retrogradin9 morally,
and you say. where IL the evidence that such
ia the case2" Let me take only one phase Of
morality, the so called race suicide" prob
lem. II seems to be generally conceded that
such problem confronts us; that there has
sprung up decided and growing practice OF
race suicide" Now. Is not this n case of moral
retrograding? What is the cause of the
retrogression? THE SrN printed recently
some statistics tending TO show that race
suicide" was greatest among those of no re-
ligious belief next greatest among Protest
ants, and least of all. il any. among Catholics
and Jews. This is but a natural showing, a
assuredly Catholics and Jews have the most
positive moral and religious prohibition OF
race suicide, while the less positive the pro-
hibition the greater the moral deterioration
in this respect. and the greatest Of all when no
prohibition exists Well what does this
prove? II proves statstiCaly. practically
and positively what should hardly AT this late
day require such proof-tbat religion is at
least conducive to, If not necessary to, mo-
ralty.
But The SUN may not see or concede that
1t questions this.
The Catholics know as a proved fact that
their great growth has been largely due to
their paroc HAL school system. They GER
tainly have retained their membership and
made greater and seader growth than any
other Church. Other creeds. which have
been standing still, or losing have been grad
ually awakening to the value Of denomna-
tional schools for promoting their growth.
Religion. therefore, appears to suffer in the
public schools, or liz not aided by them az
needed Ergo if morality lHgs for want Of
religion. and religion Ia a loser because of the
public schools. then morality retrogrades in
Can it be gainsaid. then. that if we teach
morals in our schools our children will ad-
vance morally, ana i wedo not that they will
Where outside Of churches and pnrochial
schools ia there any teaching OF morals to-
day? That the facts al to the moral retro
greSsion due to the absenCe OF religious teach
ing are not 80 .palpably convincing as The Sun
requires, is doubtless due to The retardng
influence of the inherited morality from gem
standards of morality still maintained by the
very large proportion OF earnest believers
You Admit that many of those whose re-
ligious training outside OF the schools is neg
lected by their parents are less faithful in
distinctivey religious schools are taught 10
be-: but you AJAX. Practically, is their moral
tone lover" And, again. YOU ask, Are they
not showing tendency which lS observable
even among the reliRously trained?" What
does this mean? What kind ,ot tendency
We are speaking of morals presumably IL
dreams, OF II higher moral tendency, as exist
ing to-day And. alas! you are right in say
ing that such q tendency is observable even
among the religiously trained The lower
moral tendency ia general. That is the nat
ural inevitable result. A lowering Of moral
ity in some must affect the whole mass.
anqes in D' churches % Of ali Rnds Vns a GRIM" crms
and the marked increase in anarchical ten,
association was formed year ago. nom
Catholic too. to promote moral training in
public sGhG rssa b sn SEnnr Of hs State
same thi9s these al dssmpn , really
rennrkG6ie pre eHn s,,%C OF clear ana strong
You seem TO me 10 take altogether too
despairing view Of he possibility Of amend
smg rS 10 pass such P at once
It we're presented, The necessary delay OF
two years or 40 would he quite sufficient for
various denominations are daily seeing that
their very existence depends upon finding
some means to retain even the children Of
ready started TO initiate the Catholic parochial
system; Many others would he glad TO follow
could they meet tho expense. Undoubtedly,
Il number would he ready TO join the Catho-
lies In securing state aid The opposition ia
not as great as ten wears 9aoo, when the Con
Etitltlon Was adopted WIN the catholic
Church unit and with the help Of one or two
other seCts The hing would he done. The
opposition would not be nearly as united or
strong The grsSt nom church. going ma or
ity would not bc Arrayed AS n unit against it.
They have no very decided notions on ths
subject. and many OF them would be very
liberal Besides. they lack organization,
As TO the Jews. why should they oppose 10
If they get free schools that would he the
most they would max il they did noN wish tho
state aid for their own schools
The time was never nearly IA opportunS IA
to-day for the passage of the laws necessary
not only for Justice TO Catholics. but the SAL
walton Of the ma ton c, A. WFRBER
RgO0kIvN Anu