The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-09-10
BISHOP OF DENVER's LETTER.

Right Rev. n. c. AIatz bishop of Denver. sends
out circular letter "to the beloved brethren of the
clergy and of the laity who are blessed with paro-
chial schools in their parishes" 1t is timely in
its advice and admonitions and bears out a truth
ful representation of the demoralizing social con-
dllons resulting from the exclusion of God in the
! education of the youth of America Honest peo-
pie of all denominations" writes the bishop, haye
come to recognize this deplorabe condition and its
cause, and from one end of the land to the other
has come a cry in behalf of religious education
for our children. Thus the position of the Cath
ohc church has at last found Justification" Call
ing attention to the opening of the fall term of
our schools, the bishop adds:
To-day twelve millions of Catholics in this
country hold i'll their hands the temporal and eter-
nal destlnies of all earth that is dearest to
them-their children. Tomorrow they will cast
their lots and in due time reap the results. If
that lot is cast for Catholic education, wherever
it can be procured, it will count for God and
fatherland; if not, it will count for atheism So
cialism and anarchy. There is no other choice and
we must make it now or never. There can be no
doubt on this subject. The Church. by her popes
and her councils, backed by an experience of TWEEN
ty centuries, has spoken in unmstakable terms
Ihe sacrifices she has made and the victories she
has won during these many years of her existence.
speak more eloquenty still, and the rage of her
enemies, who, despairng of ever conquering the
Church unless they snatch from her hands the
control of education, proclaims the same truth.
if possible still more fbrcbly. A glance at the
condition of our country is sufficient to prove
the truth of these statements
1t Is but little more than fifty years since our
system OF public schools became generally adopted |
throughout the United States. What is the result?
Out OF population of eighty millions only about
onetourth lay claim to any religious convictions
and with the departure of religion from the heart
of this great people, atheism socialism and an
archy are rampant. Honest people of all denomina.
lions have come to recognize this deplorable con-
dltlon and its cause, and from one end of the
land to the other has come cry in behalf of re-
lgIous education for our children. Thus the DO
'lton OF the Catholic church has at last found JUS
lhcat1on Her heroism in bearing the burden Of
lnJust taxation without representation and again
aXing herself for the support of her own schools
las been the theme of unstinted praise from all
quarters, and the results wrought through the de
-otedness of her noble ssterhoods in the causo Of
ducation has merited for her the admiration Of
IL classes.
Ihat the secular education given in our Cath.
TIC schools is fully up to the standard is admit
ed on all sides, and moral training which neces-
afliy accompanies Catholic education causes orr
choolS to be trequented by many nom Catholic
hlidren. And yet Catholics arc found within easy
ccess of a Catholic school, who still persist in
ending their children to non Catholic schools sim
~ because they called free and are offered
rec books, etc. Such Catholics are not deserving
lie name of Catholic They place in the balance
lie souls OF their children and weigh by the stand
ri OF gold souls redeemed by the blood of Christ
OF. faui could say IN truth: eff any man have
't OF his own and especially of those of his house
us domestlcs) he has denied the faith and i
orSe than an infdel'-I Tim, V. s; how nnob
ore terribly must these words strike Catbol;o
'rents who so far forget their responsibility &c '
send their children to the state schools who,
ey have Catholic school in their parisb2
1t Is our bounden duty to bring this matter 70 +
III attention at this time for not only tho col T.
ton OF your children, but of yourselves i boro t
STAKE VINO does not know that good cb;ldro,, ID
lose hearts are lmbued with the KNOWLEDGE +ho =
'e ana the lear OF God, children deeply mnressod n
tn the yeneration for parental autbori+, oL;1
en- fully conscious of their obligations towords 81
ar parents; such children are the hope the iov "
the glory of their parents and their s+ronooIt y
'port and comfort in old age. Then. Cbrist;an Of
tholc parents see to it that you give vopr chill II
N that education which alone is calcnla+.J - cl
ure for you such resultse' ~ u;
W49 ssn OF
II IlOlner tears are thn COW. W
,oae 'HS SdIue IN oil Ian M