Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-13
K. OF c. CIRCULAR
Will Be Mailed 10 All Councils In
The State.

Il
will be mailed to all the councils II
the state on or about March Is:
The fourteenth annual convention
Of the Connecticut knights of Co
lumbus adopted resolution empow,
ering State Deputy James T. Meskil
TO appoint committee Of three tt
confer with the Right Rev Michae
Tierney, D. d., bishop Of Hartford
with reference to the assistance oul
order might lend the church autho.i.
! Ties In the care and disposal of or
phan, neglected and wayward chill
dren.
| Upon the recommendation of the
right reverend bishop that committees
| desires to submit to the consideration
OF the members of the order some sug-
gestions that may be helpful in di.
recting councils how best to coop.
crate with the officials of the church
In this important matter. .a
1t is desired In the first place thai
serious consideration be given the
subject and that individual members
and separate councils shall deem it E
duty to provide in whatever way be
possible for active participation ir
the work of saving to cur faith
these children who are In danger OF
peryersion.
For this purpose 1t is advised that
the question shall not be considered
as topic for mere idle discussion, hui
that each council shall take immedi.
ate and definite action in Offering the
needed assistance We, therefore, re.
commend that in localities where
state institutions for the commitment
OF children are situated special Of
ficer, or a suitable committee, be
delegated to make inquiries concern
Ing the Catholic inmates. If there is
Catholic church in the vicinity. this
officer, or committee, shall wait upon
the pastor to be informed of his
wishes and to be directed by his
counsel.
In all investigations care must be
taken to give no offence either to the
civil authorities or to those in charge
of the institutions. If reluctance is
shown to answer inquiries the infor-
nation may be procured in another
way, but we might defeat our own
purpose were our approach judged
to be hostile or our effort an attempt
to interfere with the conduct of pub
lie institutions. Information should
be sought as to the number of Cath
olics dwelling in such institutions,
they are charitable, reforma-
tory or penal. The opportunity Of
forded for religious worship accord
Ing to our faith; whether cateshism
is taught; whether the inmates are
permitted to attend mass; whether
Catholics are obliged to assist at
non-Catholic services; whether, upon
release, the subjects are placed in
on-Catholic homes; whether pro-
vision is made to secure Catholic pro-
lection for those in need of such aid
these and all other questions that
nay obtain needful information
should be asked and the answers re-
corded.
Such information is of little use
Unless 1t leads to action. When,
herefor, 1t is discovered that in
Justice is being done, steps should be
aiken to remedy the evil. In County,
Homes where Catholic children, con-
rary to the law passed at the last
,eneral assembly, are placed with
guardians, the atten-
ion of the superintendent of such
should be directed to the
aw.
1t would be better, however, il in
tead Of simple complaint, we could
fer homes In which such children
1ight be given the shelter apt to
eep them Catholic. 1t will be 4. ad-
analogous. therefore, If In every
art of the state list could be kept
I Catholics DESTROYS of adopting or
han and abandoned children. II /.
ach council will make inquiries of
he members, and each member ask =,
his own neighborhood, there is no =
oubt that list could be written i,
nd constantly replenished with the :
ames necessary to provide homes for
II our needy children.
Judges of the courts are empower
I, under certain conditions, to COM
1T to the House of the Good Shep- :
erd, In Hartford, delinquents upon !
HON sentence must be passed. II
ould be well IL in all such courts
ember of the order-preferably
wyer-were in attendance to call
.tention to the advisability of send
Ig Catholics to the Sisters of the
God Shepherd rather than to other
buses of detention. 1t is not likely
lat any judge would refuse such a
quest were the advantages of the
'ocedure explained to him by an in j
rested, intelligent Catholic layman. :
lch a representative Of our order ;
ould be appointed in every city. ,
Within a short time the Catholic 4
dustrial school at Deep River will
in condition to receive all the boysl
no may seek admittance and whom,
might be desired, to send there. f,
ere, again. the order may help by !.
eing that the claims to recognition +.
such an Institution should be !.
own and the object for which the :
hool exists not be overlooked. Boys I
-