The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-08-23
LETTER OF THE MOST REVEREND ARCHBISHOP
A CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR CATHOLIC CHILDREN
that their children attend Catholic
school

that their children attend Catholic
school.
For the Catholic school We plead
whichever school it may be-wherever
it is situated, under whatever immedi-
ate direction it is placed. 1t is the
principle that we preach-the Catholic
school as such. The selection of one
Catholic school in preference to an
other, is the free privilege of the
Catholic parent. Be it the parish
school, one or the other, be it. the
academy or the college, be it near
ones home, or removed therefrom-we
are satisfied, as we should be. What
we demand is the Catholic education
of the child wherever this be given.
We plead with very particular en-
phasis in favor of Catholic youths,
boys and girls. who, emerging from
the grade or grammar school, are to
be sent to high school or college.
There is on the part of some parents
the illusion that the religious instruc-
tion given in lower schools is adequate
to all requirements, that children
armed with it, may in safety be ex-
posed to the secularism of higher
schools. The contrary is the obvious
truth. In the grade or grammar school,
pupils are yet immature in mind, and
are, to a great degree, incapable of
the deeper and more thorough instruc-
ton in religion which they should be
possessed of. AS they leave the lower
Inah 0f 1A Tryhn
their mental faculties lead them to
think and reason, as heretofore they
could not have done. This is the time
when they take to themselves the
more serious studies in worldly
branches of learning time, conse-
quently, when religion should be pre-
sented to them in it's deeper and
} broader aspects-and, it, is, at this
most critical period of their intellec-
tual development, that they are with
drawn from the guidance of the
Church, and placed within an atmos-
phere not merely negative in it's in
| fiuences, but frequently tainted with
direct and positive anti-religious and
anti Catholic teaching. 1t is the time
when those themes of study are made
their daily occupation, which lend to
the teacher the opportunity of easier
i divagation from the principles of sound
J Catholic thought and conduct l might
go further and remark upon other
perils of non-Catholic schools-so-
called co-education, wild fads proposed
as substitutes for religion in the do
} main of morals-from which tender
consciences outside the Catholic
: Church shrink in fear, which Catholic
parents should never allow to cross
the pathways of childhood and youth
In the cities of st. Paul and Min
neapolis, as in other places in the
Northwest, such provisions for Cath.
olic youth are made, in academies
commercial high schools, classical col
leges, that no possible excuse exists
. for Catholic parents to rob their chill
dren of the blessings of higher Cath.
7 olic education We trust and pray that
: no excuse of the kind will be sought
: for. If Catholic schools outside the
Diocese or the State, for one consid
Grafton or another, are deemed more
/, serviceable, more attractive, let others
be chosen in other parts of the coun
try. 1 repeat, the question is one Of
? principle-A Catholic education foI
: Catholic children, wherever, under
whatever legitimate conditions this is
| given.
l am not unaware that now and then
in quarters otherwise sincerely Cath
olic, the notion is entertained that
: fashion and social ambitions advise
: certain non-Catholic schools, public OF
private, rather than Catholic. What
the dictates of fashion or social ambi
!, tion are, do not know, nor do care
e to inquire. For this know, that fash
D ion and social ambition, running coun
e ter to the dictates of religion, are as
J, the kingdoms offered from the noun
q tain-top to the Saviour, as the reward
+ of alteration given to Satan-that the
d answer to fashion and social ambition
d in opposition to religion must be none
t other than the answer of the Saviour
0 to the tempter- Begone, Satan: fol-
e it is written: The Lord Thy God thor
/ shalt adore, and Him only shalt thor
y serve"
To Catholic parents I repeat: A
+ Catholic education for the Catholic
t child. We're / to say less, / were be
|, traying the responsibilities of my sa
cred Office: I were the unworthy
q guardian of the faith OF holy Church
d l pray God to bless parents anG
children and hold them ever in His
r loving care.
q a+rJOHN IRELAND,
/ Archbishop of st. Paul.
}. St. Paul, August Is, 1913.