Coming to the Real Issue

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 16, 1908

Coming to the Real Issue

THE American Federation of Catholic Societies has set for itself one great task which it does not propose to abandon, that is, the support of Catholic parochial schools by public taxation. At each annual meeting of the society, it reiterates its purpose to accomplish the undertaking. A direct attempt to bring this about was made at Middletown, Conn., recently, when Rev. Dr. Donovan, rector of St. John’s Roman Catholic church, made to the citizens of that town the following proposition: That his parochial school be accepted for public school purposes; that the city pay for the use of these buildings a yearly rental of $4,800; that he supply the teachers. The teachers, would, of course, be such teachers as he employs in the parochial school—nuns or monks; and this arrangement would put into the Catholic rector’s hands the entire control of the school while its support is provided for out of the public treasury—an attempt to secure public support, by public taxation, for schools owned and operated by the church. It was a bold proposition, the opening gun of a great campaign. The proposition was rejected, but not by a great majority—934 to 653. Said Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester, N. Y., as far back as 1875: “We are going to have a desperate struggle on this question [support of Catholic schools from public funds] all over this country for the next generation.” In 1888 the Freeman Journal said: “The Catholic attitude on the school question is uncompromising. . . . The state has no right to educate, but every right to protect itself against parental carelessness. . . . As Catholics we can not allow the state either to teach sectarianism to our children, or to increase a school system, of which we can not approve, with our money.”

Therefore this proposition of Dr. Donovan’s is in perfect harmony with the declarations above quoted, and is an attempt to carry into execution the avowed purpose of the American Federation of Catholic Societies, which they declare they will never abandon.