The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-06-19

l955. We plan TO start consiruc-
ton on the second and third
schools as soon as the first is in
full operation If the financial
resources are available.
This is the statistical story Of the
need for the present campaign for
two million dollars for high
schools. More and more our neigh
bors and fellow citizens OF various
religious beliefs are coming to rec
ognize the important part that the
Catholic school system plays in the
civic life of this community. There
is greater aWareness on the part
of the general public that our
schools contribute nightly not on
ly 10 the strong moral fibre of the
nation but also that they represent
tremendous contribution to the
financial well-being OF state and
local governments. The most re-
cent figure on the average annual
per pupil cost of local tax-support-
ed schools was S208. .43. At that rate
the present Catholic school system
of $4,000 students represents an
annual saving of over $500, 900 to
the taxpayers of this Community.
| emphasize the word annual in
that statement. This is in addi-
ton TO the capital outlay of more
than S12,000,000 which would be
necessary to construct the build
ings to house these young Catholic
citizens.
II is evident that the best friend
of our unsupported schools is the
Catholic school system Without
any desire to engage in contro-
versy, we maintain that these two
school systems are parallel and
not opposed. Certainly the Catho-
lie system stands every worthy
test of scholarship and patriotism
by which worthy citizens have ever
aSsayed it. Private enterprise is
just as laudabfe in the field of edu-
cation as it is in business or other
essential services. Far from being
diyiSlye element in society the
Catholic school system emphasizes
the basic freedom of our American
democracy.
All of US certainly are greatly
encouraged by the sympathy and
financial support SO enfhusiasfiesI-
Y accorded the Development
Fund by many of our non-csthoIie
friends. The very first donation
which received for the Fund
was from Just such an understand
ing friend. Many others have vol
Unfeered their services for the civ
&c feature of our Campaign which
will open tomorrow among the
business and industrial firms in
Columbus.
We are greatly encouraged by
these evidences of good will to-
wards us and our institutions and
we are humbly grateful. However,
this is indeed our task and our
responsibility. This is definitely
our rallying time to show again
our willingness by sacrifice TO
maintain, TO support, and to ex-
tend the needed facilities for the
religious education of our youth.
! speak not merely to the vast
throng of workers here in Memoir
al Hall but to all the Wage-earnerS
of our Parishes. This is the time
of judgment on the quality and
loyalty of your faith. | ask you who
are at home to await there the
visit of your Parish worker and TO
receive him with the same courtesy
and kindness with which YOU
would receive your Pastor or my
self. Receive him and give gener-
ouSly!
Ii | have seemed to emphasize
the statistics of dollars and cents
in describing our present need as
the reason for the campaign, you
who know the reason of the ap-
peal and its urgency have well un-
derstood that all this is but a
means to an end. The need for
new buildings and expanded facili-
ties, and consequently for money,
is indeed great. But the real need
which we have set our hearts and
hands to satisfy is that which
springs from our Holy Faith. Youth
needs God and we are determined
10 the best of our ability to bring
youth to Gods knowledge and love
and service. We do not underesti-
mate the difficulty of collecting
two and one-half million dollars to
make real the cold facts of new
buildings to care for the increased
school population. But neither
should we underestimate our re-
Sponslbllltles TO God whose Provl-
dence has made us members of His
Mystical Body, the Church, and has
set us as prosperous citizens of
our beloved United States. We
must meet the urgent needs of to-
day if the Church is to care for
present-day souls. BY the divine al
chemy of Faith our dollars can be-
come works of salvation for our
selves and others Great strides
have been made in building up
the Church in our community. We
cannot falter now.
The need for high schools and
the new Saint Vincent's is based fl
nally in our duty to Christian Cit
izenship. We recognize. a conscien-
tious obligation to give our youth
a complete education. We maintain
that an education which omits God,