With purely political questions we have nothing to do in editing a religious paper. For while we with all others have an important interest in the political issues of the day, in our columns we can only appropriately discuss religious issues. But when religious questions enter into politics as an important element, we are not on that account to hold our peace upon those questions. It must be apparent that such is becoming the case in this country, just as it is in Germany and other countries of the old world. This question is nothing more nor less than the control of American politics and the American Government by the Catholic Church as a religious organization.

      It is true that this is not the ostensible, the proclaimed issue as yet, but nothing less than this is aimed at, and nothing less will satisfy the ambition of the Roman Church and her army of foreign priests. The objective point in the present is the American school system, but already there are intimations that this is only a mediate end, and that this end once reached it will be an easier matter to secure complete control of the whole machinery of government.

      That this question is becoming a live political issue is evident. For some years it was local and municipal. New York City was the center, and there the Catholics had secured so nearly all they wanted that matters went on quietly enough for awhile. But even there when the full and complete purpose of the Catholic Church became clearly evident there was a terrible commotion. Thence the scene of the controversy was transferred to Cincinnati and other western cities. The struggle first was to banish the Bible from the public schools, and then came the real issue, that of separate schools for Catholics under their immediate control. So bitter and hostile has become the feeling of the Catholic priesthood against the school system that in many places Catholic children have been peremptorily forbidden by the priests to attend common schools. Father Walker, one of the reverend Roman Catholics of New York, recently announced from his pulpit to the faithful that he would as soon "administer the sacraments to a dog," as to Catholics who send their children to the public schools. Such sentiments are generally re-echoed by the priesthood everywhere.

      Such boldness of language was not witnessed in the first onset in this struggle. Then the whole American people, alarmed at the dangers which threatened one of their most cherished institutions, with one voice denounced and condemned the men who would destroy it. There was remarkable unanimity on this point a few years ago. More, there was activity; there were voices from all sections of the land warning the people against this most insidious foe. To-day there is apathy. Although the danger is more imminent than ever before; although the ax now lies at the very root of the most precious tree in our national garden. we seem measurably insensible to the fact. During these years Catholics have not been idle. Apparently stunned by the thunder of the voices of the people at their first attack, they soon recovered and went to work, with less ostentation, but with unflagging persistency. The result is before us. Then it was the Bible in the common schools; now it is the very system itself that is the objective point of attack. Then it was a question of local and municipal importance, down among the minor interests of politics; yes, even lower down than the filthy waters of politics usually penetrate; now it is a question which begins to disturb State Conventions and to create discord in legislative bodies.

      Of the fact that this question is beginning to enter almost vitally into State politics we have several recent illustrations. The subject came up in the recent Republican Convention of Ohio, which plainly declared the true and original American doctrine upon the question of sectarian control of the public schools. It is reported upon good authority that a similar resolution was prepared for the Pennsylvania Convention but was withheld for fear of losing votes by it. The California Republican Convention, held ten days ago, also embodied a resolution in its platform on this question. As these resolutions are all similar in sentiment, if not in phraseology, we herewith furnish the one adopted by the California Convention. It is the ninth in their platform, and reads thus:

      Resolved, That the freedom of the State from ecclesiastical control is of equal importance with the maintenance of religious freedom from State control; that the common schools and institutions of the State were established as a preventive of the crime and poverty which attend ignorance, and we will tolerate no interference with it from any quarter; and that any effort to divide the school fund for the purpose of supporting sectarian schools with portions thereof shall be met with all the resistance in our power.

      From Texas, also, comes the report that the Republican State Convention strongly resolved for the free school system. The existing laws of Texas are strongly contradictory on the subject, and the Republicans are moving for their improvement. There is a natural fear in this country of introducing sectarianism into politics; but this is not a sectarian question at all. Besides, nothing is so clearly demonstrated in history as the fact that priests are the most intolerant and unscrupulous of politicians. It is truthfully said by a very able writer, that, "Every proposition looking to the overthrow of the equal, unsectarian common school system in this country has proceeded from the political designs of the Roman church. It is a purpose well defined, long cherished, and fostered by the very unwillingness to admit its existence and to oppose it openly; and it is a purpose fatal to republican liberty, and to American institutions.

      We have thus written on this question to do our part to keep alive the fires of opposition to any such fatal attempt at the life of that institution which is the glory of America. We must not fall asleep at our posts. The enemy is active all the time, and it may well be feared that we will become indifferent through the patient and unflagging persistency of this insidious foe. The persistent party usually wins. And unless we fix deep in our hearts an undying love for the heritage bequeathed us by our fathers, it will be filched from us before we are conscious of the danger. We are no advocate of persecution or proscription; but we believe in keeping sacred the boon that has enriched us in the past, and which yet may be sanctified to our incalculable good. And by bringing these things prominently before the people in good season much may be done to lessen the duration and severity of the struggle that is before us.

[The Church Advocate 40 (June 23, 1875): 4.]

      Christian H. Forney's "The Catholic Controversy" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 8 (June 23, 1875), p. 4. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 2 June 1999.
Updated 13 July 2003.