Smyrna times., 1907-02-13
BISHOP M'FAUL'S
PLEA FOR HELP
Believes Par0chial Schools Should
Get Share of States Money.
RELIGIOUS TEACHING NEEDED

Trenton, n. j., Feb. 1.-THE Rt.
Rev. James A. McFaul, bishop of the
Catholic diocese of Trenton, has issued
a pastoral on The Christian School,"
which is to be read during Lent in
all churches of the diocese. The bishop
champions the parochial school, and
gives statistics showing the mainte-
nance OF Catholic parOchial schools on
a basis of the cost of public schools
saves the nation S20,000,000 a year in
tuition, Independent of about $780,
100000 that would be necessary for
school houses. He makes a plea for
state assistance for parochial schools
in return for secular education fur
nished, providing the secular educa-
tion is up to . required state standard.
The bishop argues that the teaching
of religion in the schools is necessary
to the perpetuation of Christianity.
Bishop McFaul says in his letter:
"In the first place, then, there is no
room for our children in the public
schools. But, even if there were room,
we could not patronize them, as we
cannot conscientiOusly use a system
which debars religious education. In
Massachusett when all the people
were Congrc Sationalists, and a tax
was imposed on the people for the
maintenance of the schools, there was
no injustice done, because the taZ
was paid by those who sent their chill.
dren to them. But all this has been
changed. The present system is sup
ported by general funds and by taxa
tion of the entire population of the
state. 1t is certainly unjust to tax
people for what they cannot conscien-
tiously use.
"Let us now see what would be the
cost to the state of New Jersey fol
educating the 1868 children now at
tending our parish schools. Take $3.50
for buildings and the cost for tuition
in the state during 1906, viz, $29.17
or total of S17917 for buildings and
pupils, and we have the enormous sum
of $9,614,OS3O3.
What is the compromise we pro-
pose? First-Let our schools remain
as they are. SecOnd-Let no compen.
sation be made for religious instruc-
ton. We do not want it. We have
seen what has happened in countries
where the clergy are the hirelings o.
the state. Our principle is, let the
pastor take care of the flock, and live
by the flock. Third-Let our children
be examined by a state or municipal
board, and if our schools furnish the
secular education required, then let
the state pay for it.
Mind you. we do not ask anybody
else's money All we want is our own
for the education of our children. Is
this not fair? Yes, and Americans are
being gradually educated up to. the
justice of our position Suppose that in
some city, like New York or Chicago,
this system could be initiated, so that
non-Catholics might see that it is not
inimical to the existence of the pres
ent public school system, it would not
be Ions until we would have our rights.
But they say, If we go that far, then
all the denominations will want their
share of the school fund But why
should they? Are they 50 unwise as
to destroy a system with which they
are now satisfied, simply because Cath.
olics would receive justice? 1 cannot
believe that our non-Catholic fellow.
citizens are SO selfish and narrow.
MANY non-Catholic citizens see
danger in the present public school
system. They perceive clearly that.
if the head alone is educated and the
heart left fsllow, injury is done both
to the individual and society"