The Lenten Pastoral for 1873.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 172, 25 February 1873, Page 7

The Lenten Pastoral for 1873.

The following extracts from the above will doubtless interest a number of our readers:— Patrick, by the grace of God and favour of the Holy See, Bishop of Duuedin, and Administrator of the Diocese of Wellington : To the Clergy and Laity of the said Diocese, health in the Lord and benediction. Dearly Beloved Brethren,—Lent commences this year on the 26th February, Ash Wednesday, and ends on 13th April, Easter Sunday. In our Pastoral addressed to the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Dunediu last year, we called attention to the subject of Education, and warned the faithful to be on their guard against the dangers of the Government schools in Otago. These clangers continue ; no improvement has taken J place ; the same system prevails, and the same objectionable books are still in use. Since then, the Holy See has been pleased to confer on us the administration of Wellington, and consequently the duty of providing, as far as possible, for the education of Catholics in that vast diocese. As you are all aware, there is no general system of education in this Colony ; and the several Provinces are authorised to provide for themselves such a system as may recommend itself to the majority of the inhabitants in each case. A few of the Provinces in these dioceses have endeavoured to do justice to Catholics. : In these, peace and harmony prevail, and consequently the education of the people advances satisfactorily; though in no instance are the schools supported or aided by the Governments such as in every respect we should wish to see them. But in the most populous and important Provinces, such as Otago, Canterbury, and Wellington, the systems of education arc antagonistic to our principles, oppressive to our consciences, and condemned by the Church. Catholics cannot approve of a system of education which is outside the Catholic faith and the authority of the Church, and which aims, or at least chiefly aims, at imparting a knowledge of things ! merely secular, and of social life on this | earth. j Our duty, therefore, is clear. We an; I bound to exert ourselves to provide Catho- ! lie schools for our children, and to warn | the faithful, and declare that no one can i in conscience frequent schools which are withdrawn from the control of the Church. In the discharge, therefore, of these duties, we now call on you to exert yourselves to the utmost to establish Catholic schools throughout these two dioceses ; and we declare that you cannot, with safe consciences, permit your children to frequent the schools of several Provincial Governments, particularly those in Otago. Canterbury, and Wellington : for these latter are not merely withdrawn from the control of the Church, —we mean, of course, as far as Catholic children are concerned, —but they are directly hostile to our religion. Under the systems of these thive Provinces, the reading of the Bible (Protestant) is compulsory. This provision of the law excludes all Catholic masters and mistresses from the schools as efficaciously as if Catholics were excluded by name, and certainly stamps upon them the distinctive character of Protestantism. In Otago, it is Presbyterian Protestantism ; in Canterbury, Anglican Protestantism ; and, in Wellington, Protestantism of any and every kind. There is, as w*» are aware, what is called a conscience clause, but we know that in Otago it is frequently a sham or a snare ; and we entertain no doubt whatever it will be found to lie the same in the other Provinces. Notwithstanding this conscience clause, such unfortunate Catholic children as attend Government schools in Otago are exposed to chastisement for refusing to read, or assist at the reading, of the Protestant Bible, learn Protestant prayers, and read the vilest calumnies against the Church and its ministers. We know 'of cases in point of recent, occurrence. But even though the conscience clause i succeeded in effecting all that it purports to effect, still we should not be justified in ; approving these schools, because they are : in no sense, not even as far as Catholic | children are concerned, under the control of the Church, and her Pastors cannot exercise, the least suoei vision over the in-

fitruction of tho Catholic children who may frequent them,, or over the books put into their hands. Wo abstain from discussing hero the injustice and insult to Catholics as citizens which are involved in the systems of these three Provinces. Under these, Catholics are compelled, in common with their fellowcitizens, to contribute to the maintenance of schools from which both they and their children are excluded, merely because they faithfully adhere to their principles, which are those of the grand old Church; and are then obliged to provide schools for their own children, without any aid from the public funds to which they contribute thoir share. We shall only add that these several Provincial Education Ordinances are «omany penal laws, and virtually a repeal pro tanto of the Emancipation Act. We cannot regard them in any other light than as a re-enactment of some of the provisions of tho odious, impolitic, and cruel penal code. Catholics should make known the injustice done them in petitions clear, strong, and respectful, to the several Provincial Councils and the General Legislature, and ask for redress. No doubt there will be difficulty and delay to be encountered. But what good has there ever been effected without a hard struggle 1 A t present pub- | lie opinion is against us, and this is the I greatest obstacle in our road. In the pubI lie press we have hardly a friend, whereas the vast majority of the newspapers are strenuous opponents. But it is not to be supposed that the writers of these journals jare beyond the pale of reason, common, Isense, and justice, Tf they opposes us, it j may be justly supposed they do so through ; delusion, blindness, or ignorance. Let, (then, Catholics endeavour to enlighten • them, and prove to them the justice of j their claims for aid to Catholic school:-,, land there is no good reason for doubting • that they will advocate the cause of justice. | But the Catholic body in this Colony j labours tinker-one great disadvantage j there is not even one Catholic periodical. And so long as this state of things con- | tinues, it will be next to impossible to make any impression on public opinion. In order to wipe away this repro.ich, and apply a remedy to so great an evil, an effort is now being made to establish a I Catholic newspaper, and we sincerely hope i the project wi 1 not be permitted to become a failure through the apathy of those who ! ought to aid it. It is necess ry again to remind you that j the society of Freemasons is condemned by :the Church. This society is in conflict I with the Church and Christianity, and tho j most deadly en«Miiy of both. The Church, I therefore, has condemned it. and in order ito save her children from its contamina-

I tion, has excommunicated all its members, | and all who aid and abet them ; and has | from time to time, (hiring the, last and | present century, renewed this sentence of | excommunication. All who assist at Freei masons' balls are considered as aiders arid j abettors of Freemasonry, and are console "itly excommunicated. Our Holy Father is still a prisoner in I the Vatican ; surrounded by enemies cla- ; monring for his ruin. The property of the | Church h:is been forcibly alienated, and he |is now a dependant on the alms of tho : faithful. It is our duty to aid him iu 'every way in our power. Whilst, the.reI fore, we supplicate the Throne of Mercy in | his behalf, let us not forget to aici him also !by our alms. For this purpose we ordain that a collection be made for the Holy j Father, on next Good Friday, in all the \ Missions, and the amount forwarded to us las soon as possible for transmission to His Holiness. There are other subjects of great impori tance to which it will soon be necessary to ; call your special attention, but at present !we shall content ourselves with merely ■mentioning them, that you may prepare 'yourselves for the efforts you will have to ! make in reference to them. The first is 'the raising of a fund to enable the Bishop to help in educating candidates for the j priesthood, and the second is the establishment of an ecclesiastical seminary in this ! Colony. The number of priests in thesu | Dioceses is insufficient, and it is not to be ! expected that the old country can supply jus for ever with priests. Besides, an opportunity should be afforded for such amongst ourselves as may have a vocation ;to the priesthood, to prosecute the neces•sary studies without being obliged to go to I Europe, and reside there from six to teu 'years. I We may also mention that the time is !not far distant when an effort must hj? 1 made to build a Cathedral in Dunedirt, \ that will bo worthy of the chief city of tho Province, and fi! to be the Mother Church lof the l)i\>co*o. 1 t F. M.