The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-12-12
"To All Priests"


TT is a deplerable fact that a
large number of Catholic
parents take their children
from the Catholic schools and
send them to the public school as
soon as these children have made
their first communion. In view of
the repeated and earnest admoni-
tions Of the highest authorities in
the church on the grave duty of par
ents to leave their children under
Catholic educational influence, that
is, in Catholic schools, as long as
possible, it is almost impossible to
understand the sinful levity of such
parents and their open defiance of
the laws of the church.
Their action appears still more
criminal when earnest Christian be-
levers outside of the Catholic
church ali over the United States
begin to call loudly for religious
and moral instruction in the public
schools as the only means of coun-
teracting the growing loss of posi-
tive religion, and with it, as a neces-
sary consequence, the loss of moral
principles and habits among the
youth of the country. How can
Catholic parents, in the face Of all
this, find any excuse good before
God and conscience for taking their
children from the Catholic school
and thus depriving them of the di-
rect and strong influence of Chris
tian faith and grace which alone can
form them into good Christians and
good citizens alike?
70, ,401x
cept where parents are deprived of
the opportunity and blessing of
Catholic school or where the child
rem have already passed through
all the grades of the Catholic school
and wish to continue further studies.
The crazy notion of some parents
that their American citizenship de-
mands to have their children attend
the public school, as if our Catholic
schools were not American, or the
positively anti-Christian idea that
the minds and hearts of their chill
dren will profit ever so much more
by going to the public school, al
though the loss of fuller and deeper
religious training, are most assured
ly no excuses whatever.
The matter becomes of greater i'm
portance still at present when so
many Of our children are now ad-
mitted to first holy communion when
they are still in the sixth or even
the fifth grade in school. How ut
terly subversive of all the principles
and rules of the church on the Cath
Ole education of children if Catholic
parents were allowed to take their
children from the catholic schools
on the plea that they have made
their first communion! And yet
there are Catholic parents so entirely
devoid of every sense of their re-
sponsibility for the spiritual welfare
of their children, and so utterly dis
respectful to all ecclesiastical au-
thority, that their ridiculous and
foolish plea stands for them in good
season.
Hence, in order that the priests
of the diocese as well as Catholic
parents may clearly know their du-
ties, we ordain as follows:
l. In regard to sending Catholic
children to Catholic schools, the
laws of the third plenary council of
Baltimore must be fully observed.
Exceptions can be allowed only, as
there stated, by episcopal authority.
2. Catholic parents are bound to
send their children who have made
their first holy communion to the
Catholic school until these children
have passed through all the grades