The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-04-29

Number IL
fatal injuries inflicted by fellowmen.
Unfortunately here in the United
States we are striking example Of
the very opposite. We have more MUIR
ders to the number of our population
than any other country in the world.
The number is increasing by leaps and
bounds from year to year The reason
for it is very we'll known. Our murder
ers are not punished. Less than two
We have educated our people so much
they call it education, at least-that
we have turned their minds to foolish
sentimentality, and as a consequence
there is a morbid sympathy for the
criminal and foolish pity that leads
us to spare him. Hysterical women
send him flowers while he is in prison,
write him sympathetic notes during
his trial, let him see their pity when
verdict is about to be rendered, and
our juries have become so foolishly
tenderhearted that a mercy that is not
mercy but inanity spares the Grim
inal
Education and Suicide.
What is true for murder is even
more true for suicide. With every in
crease in education there has been a
corresponding increase in the suicide
rate. Perhaps the most unfortunate
thing about it is that the greatest in
crease in the suicide rate has been in
the younger years. One hundred years
ago there used to be very few suicides
under twenty-five years of age. Now
there are many. Suicide used to be
largely an event of the time after
middle age; it is becoming much more
largely an incident of the first half or
life and even comparative children
now take their lives because they have
been taught many things, but have
had no great principles of faith and
self-denial and the benefit of morti-
fcation and the good that can be de-
rived from humiliation given to them.
In word they have had no religious
| training.
Influence of Religion.
But it will be said that homicide and
above all suicide are the results of
| the time and our over-strenuous eX-
! istence and not of any defective edu-
cation What we know, about condi
tions in various countries, however,
does not confirm this exculpation of
education (non-religious). Find the
countries where from early years chill
dren are given a good religious train
ing, and where the whole body of the
people have religious principles clearly
before their minds and there you will
find the lowest death rate from suicide.
1t is true that race and temperament
have much to do in the matter and that
even religion will not save certain of
the melancholic from their depression
In countries, however, where the races
are the same but the conditions with
regard to religious education different,
in different portions, it is fair to make
comparisons. 1t might not be fair to
compare the Germans with the Ital
ians, but to compare the Catholic can
tons of Switzerland with the Protes-
tant cantons, or the Protestant North
of Ireland with the Catholic South
cannot be open to objection. The sui
eide rate in the Protestant portions
of these countries, where with the
breaking up of Professionalism in recent
years very little religious instruction
is being given, is nearly double that
among the Catholics of the same race
living under the same conditions and
affected by the same climate in neigh
boring provinces.
Religious Education a Necessity.
Nearly every one VINO thinks seri-
ously about education comedies that
non-religious schools are a failure in
many ways, but most of them say that
it is impossible to have religious
schools. We Catholics have dissolved
that impossiblity. Our schools are
here to show that it is possible to
teach secular things at least as well,
in most cases better, and teach relig-
ion at the same time. To continue
non-religious schools after our demon
stration in the matter is little short
of crime against our country, and it
is actually an evil that will have to be
paid for bitterly
There is no doubt then that non-re-
ligious education has failed and that
religious education must be given. But
it will be urged that religious educa-
tion should be given at home. There
- -LL
cation should begin at home. There is
also no doubt that the most precious
part of religious education is that
which is obtained at the mothers knee,
although there are so many circum-
stances that hamper that and lessen
opportunities for it in the modern time.
Religion, however, is not something
that can be obtained or understood or