AFFARI
VOS
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII
ON THE MANITOBA
SCHOOL QUESTION
To
the Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries in the
Federated States of Canada in Grace and Communion with the Holy
See.
Venerable
Brethren, Health and Apostolic Benediction.
We
can scarcely address you, which we most willingly do from our heart, without
remembering the mutual goodwill and that continuous interchange of good
offices which have ever existed between the Apostolic See and the Canadian
people. The love of the Catholic Church stood by the cradle of your State,
and since the time when she received you into her maternal arms has never
ceased to hold you in a close embrace, to foster you, and to load you
with good things. The great works which that man of immortal memory, François
de Montmorency Laval, wrought so successfully and so holily for the good
of your country, of which your ancestors were witnesses, he accomplished
through the support of the authority and favour of the Roman Pontiffs.
And it was from no other source that the works of the Bishops who succeeded
him, and who were men of such signal merits, took their origin and drew
their hopes of success. In the same way, too, to go still further back,
it was under the inspiration and on the initiative of the Apostolic See
that noble bands
of missionaries journeyed to your country, carrying along with the light
of Christian wisdom a more elevated culture and the first seeds of civilization.
And it was by these seeds, which were gradually ripened by the arduous
labour of these men, that the Canadian people won a place on a level with
the most civilized and most glorious nations and thus became, though late
in the field, their rival.
2.
All this it is pleasant for us to recall, and the more so because we see
the fruits of it, and they are by no means small, still remaining. The
greatest of all these fruits assuredly is that amongst the multitude of
Catholics there is a love and an ardent zeal for that divine religion
which your ancestors, in the first place from France, then from Ireland,
and others from elsewhere, so religiously professed themselves and transmitted
inviolate to their children. And if those children faithfully preserve
this precious heritage it is easy for us to understand how much praise
is due to your vigilance and activity, Venerable Brethren, and to the
zeal of your clergy; for all work assiduously with one heart and one soul
for the preservation and progress of the Catholic faith, and, to render
this tribute to the truth, without meeting any disfavour or obstacle on
the part of the laws of the British Empire. Accordingly, when out
of appreciation for your common merits, we some years ago conferred the
honour of the Roman purple upon the Archbishop of Quebec, it was our desire
not only to acknowledge his personal qualities, but also to render a solemn
homage to all Catholics in the country.
Education in
Canada
3.
As regards the education of the young, upon which rest the best hopes
of religious and civil society, the Apostolic See has never ceased to
work zealously in concert with you and your predecessors. Thus numerous
institutions for the moral and scientific education of your children have
been founded under the favour and protection of the Church. Amongst these
the great University of Quebec, adorned and strengthened with all the
dignity and rights which the Apostolic authority is accustomed to confer,
assuredly occupies the place of honour, and stands as sufficient witness
that the Apostolic See had no greater desire or care than the formation
of a race of citizens as distinguished by its intellectual culture as
it is rendered commendable by its virtues. Wherefore, it is with the greatest
solicitude, as you yourselves can easily understand, that we have followed
the misfortunes which have lately marked the history of Catholic education
in Manitoba. For it is our wish and it is our duty to endeavour by every
means in our power to bring it about that no harm befall the faith and
religion of so many thousands of souls, the salvation of which has been
especially entrusted to us, in a State which received the first rudiments
of Christian teaching as well as of civilization from the Catholic Church.
And since very many expect a pronouncement from us upon this question,
and look to us to point out what course they should pursue, we determined
not to come to any conclusion upon the matter until our Delegate Apostolic
had examined it upon the spot. Charged to make a careful survey of the
situation and to report upon it to us, he has with fidelity and ability
fulfilled the task we imposed upon him.
The question
at Issue
4.
The question at issue is assuredly one of the highest and most serious
importance. The decisions arrived at seven years ago on the school question
by the Parliament of the province of Manitoba must be remembered. The
Act of Union
of the Confederation had secured to Catholics the right to be educated
in the public schools according to their consciences; and yet this right
the Parliament of Manitoba abolished by a contrary law. This is a noxious
law. For our children cannot go for instruction to schools which either
ignore or of set purpose combat the Catholic religion, or in which its
teachings are despised and its fundamental principles repudiated. Wherever
the Church has allowed this to be done, it has only been with pain and
through necessity, at the same time surrounding her children with many
safeguards which, nevertheless it has been too often recognized have been
insufficient to cope successfully with the danger attending it. Similarly
it is necessary to avoid at all costs, as most dangerous, those schools
in which all beliefs are welcomed and treated as equal, as if, in what
regards God and divine things, it makes no difference whether one believes
rightly or wrongly, and takes up with truth or error. You know well, Venerable
Brethren, that every school of this kind has been condemned by the Church,
because nothing can be more harmful or better calculated to ruin the integrity
of the faith and to turn aside the tender minds of the young from the
way of truth.
The Need of
Religious Education
5.
There is another point upon which those will agree with us who differ
from us in everything else; it is not by means of a purely scientific
education and with vague and superficial notions of morality that Catholic
children will leave school such as the country desires and expects. Other
serious and important teaching must be given to them if they are to turn
out good Christians and upright and honest citizens; it is necessary that
they should be formed on those principles which, deeply engravers on their
consciences, they ought to follow and obey, because they naturally spring
from their faith and religion. Without religion there can be no moral
education deserving of the name, nor of any good, for the very nature
and force of all duty comes from those special duties which bind man to
God, who commands, forbids, and determines what is good and evil. And
so, to be desirous that minds should be imbued with good and at the same
time to leave them without religion is as senseless as to invite people
to virtue after having taken away the foundations on which it rests. For
the Catholic there is only one
true religion, the Catholic religion; and, therefore, when it is a question
of the teaching of morality or religion, he can neither accept nor recognize
any which is not drawn from Catholic doctrine.
6.
Justice and reason then demand that the school shall supply our scholars
not only with a scientific system of instruction but also a body of moral
teaching which, as we have said, is in harmony with the principles of
their religion, without which, far from being of use, education can be
nothing but harmful. From this comes the necessity of having Catholic
masters and reading books and text books approved by the Bishops, of being
free to regulate the school in a manner which shall be in full accord
with the profession of the Catholic faith as well as with all the duties
which flow from it. Furthermore, it is the inherent right of a father's
position to see in what institutions his children shall be educated, and
what masters shall teach them moral precepts. When, therefore, Catholics
demand, as it is their duty to demand and work, that the teaching given
by schoolmasters shall be in harmony with the religion of their children,
they are contending justly. And nothing could be more unjust than to compel
them to choose an alternative, or to allow the children to grow up in
ignorance or to throw them amid an environment which constitutes a manifest
danger for the supreme interests of their souls. These principles of judgment
and action which are based upon truth and justice, and which form the
safeguards of public as well as private interests, it is unlawful to call
in question or in any way to abandon. And so, when the new legislation
came to strike Catholic education in the Province of Manitoba, it was
your duty, Venerable Brethren, publicly to protest against injustice and
the blow that had been dealt; and the way in which you fulfilled this
duty has furnished a striking proof of your individual vigilance and of
your true episcopal zeal. Although upon this point each one of you finds
sufficient approbation in the witness of his own conscience, know nevertheless
that we also join with it our assent and approval. For the things that
you have sought and still seek to preserve and defend are most holy.
The Need of
United Action
7.
Moreover the hardships of the law in question themselves plainly proved
that there was need
of complete union if any opportune remedy of the evil was to be found.
So good was the Catholic cause that all fair and honest citizens without
distinction of party ought to have taken common counsel and acted in concert
to defend it. Unfortunately, however, and to the great detriment of the
cause, just the contrary was done. And what is still more deplorable,
Catholic Canadians themselves were unable to act in concert in the defence
of interests which so closely touch the common good, and the importance
and moment of which ought to have silenced the interest of political parties,
which are on quite a lower plane of importance.
An Insufficient
Remedy
8.
We are not ignorant that something has been done to amend the law. The
men who are at the head of the Federal Government and of the Government
of the Province have already taken certain measures to diminish the grievances
of which the Catholics of Manitoba rightly persist in complaining. We
have no reason to doubt that these measures have been inspired by a love
of fair dealing and by a good intention. But we cannot conceal the truth.
The law made to remedy the evil is defective, imperfect, insufficient.
Catholics demand, and have the right to demand, much more. Besides, the
arrangements made may fail of their effect, owing to the variations in
local circumstances; enough has not yet been done in Manitoba for the
Catholic education of our children. The claims of justice demand that
this question should be considered from every point of view, that those
unchangeable and sacred principles which we have enunciated above should
be protected and secured. This is what must be aimed at, and this the
end which must be pursued with zeal and prudence. But there must not be
discord; there must be union of mind and harmony of action. As the object
does not impose a line of conduct determinate and exclusive, but, on the
contrary, admits of several, as is usual in such matters, it follows that
there may be on the line to be followed a certain number of opinions equally
good and acceptable. Let none, then, lose sight of the value of moderation,
gentleness, and brotherly love. Let none forget the respect due to his
neighbour, but let all, weighing the circumstances, determine what is
best to be done and act together after having taken counsel with you.
Partial
Satisfaction to be Accepted
9.
As to what regards particularly the Catholics of Manitoba, we have confidence
that, God helping, they will one day obtain full satisfaction. This confidence
is founded, above all, on the goodness of their cause; next, on the justice
and wisdom of those who govern; and, lastly, on the good will of all upright
Canadians. In the meantime, until they succeed in their claims, let them
not refuse partial satisfaction. This is why, wherever the law or administration
or the good dispositions of the people offer some means of lessening the
evil and of warding off some of the dangers, it is absolutely expedient
and advantageous that they should make use of them and derive all the
benefit possible from them. Wherever, on the contrary, there is no other
remedy we exhort and conjure them to use a generous liberality. They can
do nothing better for themselves or more calculated to redound to the
welfare of their country than to contribute, as far as their means will
allow, towards the maintenance of their own schools.
10.
There is still another point which calls for your united attention. Under
your authority, and with the help of those who direct your schools, a
complete course of studies ought to be carefully devised. Special care
should be taken that those who are employed as teachers should be abundantly
provided with all the qualities, natural and acquired, which are requisite
for their profession. It is only right that Catholic schools, both in
their educational methods and in the standard of their teaching, should
be able to compete with the best. From the standpoint of intellectual
culture and progress, the design conceived by the Canadian provinces for
the development of public instruction, for the raising of the standard
of education, and making it daily more and more refined and perfect, must
assuredly be allowed to be honourable and noble. And there is no class
of study, no progress in human knowledge, which cannot
fully harmonize with Catholic doctrine and teaching.
A Word to the
Press
11.
Towards the explanation and defence of all that we have written those
Catholics can very largely contribute whose work is on the publicand especially
on the daily-press. Let them then remember their duty. Let them religiously
and courageously defend what is true and right, the interests of the Church
and of the State, and in such a way that they do not outstep the bonds
of decorum, avoiding all personalities, and exceeding in nothing. Let
them respect and religiously defer to the authority of the Bishops and
all other legitimate authority. The more difficult the times and the more
threatening the danger of division, the more they ought to strive to show
the necessity of that unity of thought and action without which there
is little or no chance of ever obtaining that which is the object of our
common hopes.
12. As a pledge of heavenly grace and a token of Our paternal affection
receive the Apostolic Benediction which We lovingly impart in the Lord
to you all, Venerable Brothers, to your clergy, and to the flocks entrusted
to your care.
Given
at St. Peter's, Rome, on the 18th day of December, 1897, in the twentieth
year of Our pontificate.
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