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Illiteracy, Progress and the

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Catholic Church
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The Catholic Church is hated by many in consequence of being wrong-

fully accused of fostering illiteracy. But from the earliest ages of Christ-

ianity, her priests and monks were the very soul of education. Sorrow-

ful, therefore, that they should be so belied by so many.

MONKS AND MONASTERIES
From the earliest centuries, many fervent souls secluded themselves

from the widespread pagan wickedness and entered societies, whose main

object was the personal sanctity of the members. For had not the Master

said : “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the

poor,” etc. (Matt. 19-21). At the end of the fourth century, such com-

munities of holy men were already very numerous ; these were the first

monasteries which for centuries were the world’s greatest asset. They

were the schools and colleges of the people; their Social Service centers,

places of hospitality for travelers and strangers, the nurseries of art and

science.

The fact is that our own enlightened age has never produced artists,

sculptors, architects, musicians, such as the so-called dark thirteenth

century created. And that was three hundred years before Protestantism

was born.

WHAT THE WORLD OWES TO THE MONKS
It was these monks who copied and re-copied by hand text books

from which the young received both secular and religious training,
.

during

a thousand years; they founded the greatest European Universities in

existence today, such as Oxford and Cambridge, Paris and Bologna

Ferra and Salamanca, Copenhagen and Prague.

WHEREAS, SEVENTY UNIVERSITIES WERE FOUNDED IN
EUROPE UNDER CATHOLIC AUSPICES BEFORE, AND FORTY-
SIX AFTER, THE REFORMATION. ONLY THIRTY-ONE IN ALL
OWE THEIR ORIGIN TO PROTESTANTS.

Hence, among countless other benefits, our twentieth century is in-

debted to the monks and monasteries for (1) the preservation of the

classics
; (2) for historical data and records of priceless value ; (3) the

Bible itself
;

in fact, unless the Almighty had employed other means for

the preservation of the Bible, without the monks, the world would hardly

have it today; the old manuscript copies of the Bible still extent, were all

the work of these monks, who with infinite labor, produced them.

ILLITERACY TODAY
According to a recent report of the U. S. Commissioner of Education,

fully half of the colored children of the South are not attending school

;

of these, seventy-five per cent are nominally Protestant, less than two

per cent Catholic. Furthermore, till lately, the whites have fared little

better in some southern States. Recently, one hundred thousand white

children in Alabama were not attending any school
;

less than one-half

were. - j
1

J

Hence, if you blame the Catholic church for the high percentage of

dliteracy in certain countries, where her religion predominates, you must

blame Protestants for the illiteracy prevalent in our Southern States,

where Protestantism predominates. In fact, far less unreasonable would

be this latter charge, since the governments of many so-called Catholic
countries are most hostile to the Church and to all religion. Our South-
ern States are not. In ill-fated Mexico, the Catholic church has been per-

secuted for three-quarters of a century; her schools closed; her teachers

exiled, and now, wonderful to relate, the illiteracy of that country is

charged to us.

No, illiteracy, whether found in so-called Catholic or strictly Protestant

districts, is due to neither church, but to causes beyond the control of either.



Why the Parochial Schools?
On few subjects has the Catholic Church been so unjustly criticized as

that of Parochial schools, in reference to which the Oregon Federal

Court decision was no surprise to Catholics. Knowing that their parochial

schools are in no way defective or blameworthy; understanding also the

intent, scope and express provisions of the Declaration of Independence

and the United States Constitution, they could imagine no other possible

outcome of the present controversy. Nor does the future give them any

alarm. Waves of intolerance and bigotry may again raise their ugly heads

but the sane, thinking portion of the American people are unwilling to

uproot the very foundation of this government; i.e. that all men have cer-

tain inherent and inalienable rights of which they must not be deprived,

one of which is to control the education of their own offspring, subject to

such state regulations as are necessary “for safeguarding the health, morals

and general weal of the public.”

THE PURPOSE OF DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS
was clearly set forth in the following paragraph of a Pastoral letter issued

in July, 1922, by the Catholic Archbishop of Oregon; this letter read in all

Catholic churches of the Diocese at the time, cannot but be considered the

last word on that subject from the Catholic viewpoint:

“Why then do we have these denominational schools ? Why do our
devoted Sisters expend such heroic efforts ? Why do our Catholic people
deny themselves in order to support two systems of education—public and
private ? There is a fundamental, a most important reason. It is this

:

We believe that besides secular learning our children should be given a
thorough course in practical Christianity; that they should imbibe deeply

both the theory and practice of religion. That they should not only learn

the Ten Commandments, but be taught how to keep them. For which
daily instruction is indispensable, which in our times and circumstances

demands a school where a strong course of religious morality can be

imparted without injustice to those who do not believe this way.
“Already there are in the United States more than sixty millions of

people who do not profess any faith or religion, or belong to any church.
To explain this our non-Catholics may assign any reason they desire, but
the fundamental reason is that children are allowed to grow up without a

Christian training, strong enough and thorough enough to enable them to

battle with the lawlessness and irreligion with which the world today is

filled. Nor can the Sunday School be substituted with anything like
success. Thousands of children do not and will not attend. If they do,

most of them learn very little and come to regard religion as a mere
“Sunday affair,” and not a part of their everydav life.”

THE POSITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHILD
EDUCATION IS IN REALITY A PROTEST AGAINST PERMITTING
MANY MILLIONS OF NOMINALLY CHRISTIAN CHILDREN TO
GROW UP IN AMERICA WITHOUT A SOUND COURSE IN RE-
LIGIOUS MORALITY; the Jack of which is daily seen in every juvenile
court, reform school and house of correction in the land. Non-Catholics
may have varied theories about solving this difficulty. But unrestrained
juvenile delinquency is undeniably the greatest problem of our country,
since this more than anything else will in time totally vitiate the moral,
social and political life of the nation. If our non-Catholic friends will but
regard our Parochial schools as a protest against, and an almost super-
human effort to correct, child delinquency and churchless millions, then
they will look at the whole matter in an entirely different light.

(Write for further information and FREE literature on any subject to
Catholic Truth Society, 304 McKay Bldg., Portland, Oregon.)



Are Catholic Countries Less Prosper*

ous Than Others?
It is often alleged that wherever the Catholic Church predominates,

reduced prosperity results. As instances, Spain and Italy are cited and we

are asked to compare these countries with Great Britain, Germany before

the war, the United States, etc. In reply, it may be asked — even sup-
posing such comparisons to be fair, is it the mission of Christ’s true Church

to secure riches, wealth, or material success for her children ? Our Divine

Lord did not promise his followers human prosperity, but, rather, adversity.

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his

cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16-24). If the predominating religious

thought of a people directly effects their country’s prosperity, then the

prosperity of the United States must be due to the non-religious element

which predominates here, while the prosperity of Japan must be due to

paganism. Moreover, if intellectual culture and material success argue for

the correctness of a nation’s religion, then the religion of the ancieat

Greeks and Romans was true, while that of the Hebrews, whom we have
always called God’s chosen people, was false.

BUT WHERE ARE THE PROTESTANT COUNTRIES?
The United States is not a Protestant country. There are more church-

going Catholics here than church-going Protestants, of all sects combined

:

Sixty millions of our people are not affiliated with any Christian church

;

while vast numbers of those who are affiliated with Protestant denomina-

tions, are members in name only.

Germany is not Protestant. Catholics there form nearly two-fifths of

the population. Among the Protestant element unbelief is becoming dis-
couragingly prevalent. This was true before the war, but since the war,

Protestantism in Germany has suffered further serious reverses. Now
that Lutheranism is no longer the state religion, with the Kaiser as head

of the church, defections from Lutheranism have become alarmingly great,

whereas the Catholic church is as strong as before.

Nor is England more than Protestant in name. Many members of the
Church of England insist on being called Catholics. In fact, about the

only churches that attract the people at all, are those which follow Catholic

services closest. For years, the English papers have discussed the ques-

tion of empty Anglican churches, and the steady unceasing movement
“back to Rome.”

CATHOLIC COUNTRIES OFTEN THE MORE PROSPEROUS
The truth is that Spain was at the zenith of her power when most

intensely Catholic, in the days of Ferdinand and Isabella. Italy, when
most Catholic, led the world in art. The Venetian State was most power-
ful when entirely Catholic. In all these cases, national prosperity declined
later because of economic, not of religious causes. Today, the once power-

ful and most Protestant nation — Holland — is the merest shadow of its
olden strength, while Catholic Belgium, before the war, was a striking

example of the Catholic religion and extraordinary prosperity combined.

Since France developed an anti-Catholic spirit, social evils of great magni-

tude have arisen, of which threatened depopulation of the country is not

the least ominous. Canada, with a large Catholic population, is one of the

soundest parts of the British Empire. Catholic Ireland leads all other

nations in domestic morality.

(Write for further information and FREE literature on any subject to
Catholic Truth Society, 304 McKay Bldg., Portland, Oregon.)



Why the Parochial Schools?
On few subjects has the Catholic Church been so unjustly criticized as

that of Parochial schools, in reference to which the Oregon Federal

Court decision was no surprise to Catholics. Knowing that their parochial

schools are in no way defective or blameworthy; understanding also the

intent, scope and express provisions of the Declaration of Independence

and the United States Constitution, they could imagine no other possible

outcome of the present controversy. Nor does the future give them any

alarm. Waves of intolerance and bigotry may again raise their ugly heads

but the sane, thinking portion of the American people are unwilling to

uproot the very foundation of this government; i.e. that all men have cer-

tain inherent and inalienable rights of which they must not be deprived,

one of which is to control the education of their own offspring, subject to

such state regulations as are necessary “for safeguarding the health, morals

and general weal of the public.”

THE PURPOSE OF DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS
was clearly set forth in the following paragraph of a Pastoral letter issued

in July, 1922, by the Catholic Archbishop of Oregon; this letter read in all

Catholic churches of the Diocese at the time, cannot but be considered the

last word on that subject from the Catholic viewpoint

:

“Why then do we have these denominational schools ? Why do our
devoted Sisters expend such heroic efforts ? Why do our Catholic people
deny themselves in order to support two systems of education—public and
private ? There is a fundamental, a most important reason. It is this

:

We believe that besides secular learning our children should be given a
thorough course in practical Christianity

;
that they should imbibe deeply

both the theory and practice of religion. That they should not only learn

the Ten Commandments, but be taught how to keep them. For which
daily instruction is indispensable, which in our times and circumstances

demands a school where a strong course of religious morality can be

imparted without injustice to those who do not believe this way.
“Already there are in the United States more than sixty millions of

people who do not profess any faith or religion, or belong to any church.
To explain this our non-Catholics may assign any reason they desire, but
the fundamental reason is that children are allowed to grow up without a

Christian training, strong enough and thorough enough to enable them to

battle with the lawlessness and irreligion with which the world today is

filled. Nor can the Sunday School be substituted with anything like
success. Thousands of children do not and will not attend. If they do,

most of them learn very little and come to regard religion as a mere

“Sunday affair,” and not a part of their everydav life.”

THE POSITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHILD
EDUCATION IS IN REALITY A PROTEST AGAINST PERMITTING
MANY MILLIONS OF NOMINALLY CHRISTIAN CHILDREN TO
GROW UP IN AMERICA WITHOUT A SOUND COURSE IN RE-
LIGIOUS MORALITY

;
the lack of which is daily seen in every juvenile

court, reform school and house of correction in the land. Non-Catholics
may have varied theories about solving this difficulty. But unrestrained
juvenile delinquency is undeniably the greatest problem of our country
since this more than anything else will in time totally vitiate the moral,
social and political life of the nation. If our non-Catholic friends will but
regard our Parochial schools as a protest against, and an almost super-
human effort to correct, child delinquency and churchless millions, then
they will look at the whole matter in an entirely different light.

(Write for further information and FREE literature on any subject to
Catholic Truth Society, 304 McKay Bldg., Portland, Oregon.)



Does the Catholic Church Oppose or

Fear Science?

No, her opposition is directed solely against the false claims of blatent

theorists. The true scientist is usually modest in his claims—and does not
demand absolute assent to what he has not definitely proven. But men of

narrow vision who crave the publicity that clings to innovations are often
the sternest dogmatizers, demanding acceptance of theories which they

themselves cannot demonstrate; and these are usually the ones who sharp-
ly criticize the church for refusing to adjust itself to their hobbies. Natur-

ally the church is opposed to them. But she is not nor can she ever be,

the enemy of real science.

THE TRUTHS OF REAL SCIENCE

cannot contradict the truths of divine revelation because God is the author

of both. On this subject the Vatican Council officially states: “But al-
though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy be-

tween faith and reason, since the same God who reveals mysteries and in-

fuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind; and God

cannot deny Himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth. The semblance

of such contradiction is mainly due, either to the dogmas of faith not

having been understood and expounded according to the mind of the

church, or to the products of opinions having been taken for the verdicts

of reason.” APPARENT conflicts therefore, as in the case of Galileo, are
either because (1) even churchmen sometimes put an unwarranted personal

interpretation upon the church’s official doctrines or (2) because would-

be scientists exploit unproved hypotheses as undoubted truths. Now the
church

CLAIMS NO DIVINE COMMISSION

to teach astronomy, biology, geology or other natural sciences. Only

when anti-Christian pretensions are made in the name of these sciences
does their cause come into her spiritual forum. Hence if in the name of
science men deny the existence of God, or assert that the entire man body
and soul come from the monkey, then in the interest of truth the church
must denounce such doctrines as pernicious. But if scientists declare that
the six days of Genesis were indefinite periods of time, the church does
not contradict them because they have not contradicated her in any of
her official teachings. The church therefore does NOT oppose real science

NOR DOES SHE FEAR IT.

Believing in her own competency to teach spiritual truths correctly, and
knowing that real scientific facts are based upon God’s laws, she welcomes
them as but another means of uplifting humanity and substantiating in
some manner at times the great truths taught the world by the Lord Jesus.
Moreover, correct history attests that the service which the church and
her children have themselves rendered to science are such as to make
mankind forever indebted to them.

(Write for further information and FREE literature on any subject to
Catholic Truth Society, 304 McKay Bldg., Portland, Oregon.)



Why the Parochial Schools?
On few subjects has the Catholic Church been so unjustly criticized as

that of Parochial schools, in reference to which the Oreg9n Federal

Court decision was no surprise to Catholics. Knowing that their parochial

schools are in no way defective or blameworthy ; understanding also the

intent, scope and express provisions of the Declaration of Independence

and the United States Constitution, they could imagine no other possible

outcome of the present controversy. Nor does the future give them any

alarm. Waves of intolerance and bigotry may again raise their ugly heads

but the sane, thinking portion of the American people are unwilling to

uproot the very foundation of this government; i.e. that all men have cer-

tain inherent and inalienable rights of which they must not be deprived,

one of which is to control the education of their own offspring, subject to

such state regulations as are necessary “for safeguarding the health, morals

and general weal of the public.
,,

THE PURPOSE OF DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS
was clearly set forth in the following paragraph of a Pastoral letter issued

in July, 1922, by the Catholic Archbishop of Oregon; this letter read in all

Catholic churches of the Diocese at the time, cannot but be considered the

last word on that subject from the Catholic viewpoint:

“Why then do we have these denominational schools ? Why do our
devoted Sisters expend such heroic efforts ? Why do our Catholic people
deny themselves in order to support two systems of education—public and
private ? There is a fundamental, a most important reason. It is this :

We believe that besides secular learning our children should be given a
thorough course in practical Christianity; that they should imbibe deeply

both the theory and practice of religion. That they should not only learn

the Ten. Commandments, but be taught how to keep them. For which
daily instruction is indispensable, which in our times and circumstances

demands a school where a strong course of religious morality can be

imparted without injustice to those who do not believe this way.
“Already there are in the United States more than sixty millions of

people who do not profess any faith or religion, or belong to any church.
To explain this our non-Catholics may assign any reason they desire, but
the fundamental reason is that children are allowed to grow up without a

Christian training, strong enough and thorough enough to enable them to
battle with the lawlessness and irreligion with which the world today is

filled. Nor can the Sunday School be substituted with anything like
success. Thousands of children do not and will not attend. If they do,
most of them learn very little and come to regard religion as a mere
“Sunday affair,” and not a part of their everydav life.”

THE POSITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON CHILD
EDUCATION IS IN REALITY A PROTEST AGAINST PERMITTING
MANY MILLIONS OF NOMINALLY CHRISTIAN CHILDREN TO
GROW UP IN AMERICA WITHOUT A SOUND COURSE IN RE-
LIGIOUS MORALITY

;
the lack of which is daily seen in every juvenile

court, reform school and house of correction in the land. Non-Catholics
may have varied theories about solving this difficulty. But unrestrained
juvenile delinquency is undeniably the greatest problem of our country,
since this more than anything else will in time totally vitiate the moral,
social and political life of the nation. If our non-Catholic friends will but
regard our Parochial schools as a protest against, and an almost super-
human effort to correct, child delinquency and churchless millions, then
they will look at the whole matter in an entirely different light.

(Write for further information and FREE literature on any subject to
Catholic Truth Society, 304 McKay Bldg., Portland, Oregon.)

DeadtJisd



Does the Catholic Church Oppose or

Fear Science?

No, her opposition is directed solely against the false claims of blatent

theorists. The true scientist is usually modest in his claims—and does not
demand absolute assent to what he has not definitely proven. But men of
narrow vision who crave the publicity that clings to innovations are often
the sternest dogmatizers, demanding acceptance of theories which they

themselves cannot demonstrate; and these are usually the ones who sharp-
ly criticize the church for refusing to adjust itself to their hobbies. Natur-

ally the church is opposed to them. But she is not nor can she ever be,

the enemy of real science.

THE TRUTHS OF REAL SCIENCE

cannot contradict the truths of divine revelation because God is the author

of both. On this subject the Vatican Council officially states: "But al-
though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy be-

tween faith and reason, since the same God who reveals mysteries and in-
fuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind; and God

cannot deny Himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth. The semblance

of such contradiction is mainly due, either to the dogmas of faith not

having been understood and expounded according to the mind of the

church, or to the products of opinions having been taken for the verdicts

of reason.” APPARENT conflicts therefore, as in the case of Galileo, are
either because (1) even churchmen sometimes put an unwarranted personal

interpretation upon the church’s official doctrines or (2) because would-

be scientists exploit unproved hypotheses as undoubted truths. Now the
church

CLAIMS NO DIVINE COMMISSION

to teach astronomy, biology, geology or other natural sciences. Only
when anti-Christian pretensions are made in the name of these sciences
does their cause come into her spiritual forum. Hence if in the name of
science men deny the existence of God, or assert that the entire man body
and soul come from the monkey, then in the interest of truth the church
must denounce such doctrines as pernicious. But if scientists declare that
the six days of Genesis were indefinite periods of time, the church does
not contradict them because they have not contradicated her in any of
her official teachings. The church therefore does NOT oppose real science

NOR DOES SHE FEAR IT.

Believing in her own competency to teach spiritual truths correctly, and
knowing that real scientific facts are based upon God’s laws, she welcomes
them as but another means of uplifting humanity and substantiating in
some manner at times the great truths taught the world by the Lord Jesus.
Moreover, correct history attests that the service which the church and
her children have themselves rendered to science are such as to make
mankind forever indebted to them.

(Write for further information and FREE literature Qn any subject to
Catholic Truth Society, 304 McKay Bldg:., Portland. Oregon.)

Why so Many Falsehoods in Hisory?
It was Dr. Nightingale (Religion of All Nations, page 16) who said: “In

scarcely a single instance has the case concerning them (Catholics) been

fairly stated, the channels of history, not grossly corrupted.” But why?

One reason for these historical perversions was the intense nationalism

prevalent in many parts of Europe during the fifteenth and sixteenth cen-

turies, which easily created antagonism against any great international

society like the Catholic Church. Moreover, though Europe was nominally

Catholic, the rulers were frequently guilty of great injustices which brought

them into conflict with the church. Their tendency therefore was to create

national churches over which they would be supreme. “Cujus regio, illius

religio”—the religion of the ruler should be the religion of the country,
was then a popular motto in many parts of Europe.

ANTI-CATHOLIC PROPAGANDA IS NO RECENT INVENTION

With certain abuses even among churchmen that needed to be corrected,

with a large amount of church property that could easily be confiscated,

the church became a popular target. To attain their personal ends, her

enemies had to represent the Catholic Church as the enemy of religion,

progress, good government, etc., just as do her foes today. Falsehoods

were invented about her, bogus documents were circulated, then as now.

Naturally many of these were recorded as facts. Those who wrote history

in those days were usually either selfishly interested, prejudiced, or they

did not dare to expose the crimes of those in civil power.

TODAY THESE ANCIENT FALSEHOODS STILL TRAVEL

The best modern historians understand this when dealing with subjects

like the Spanish Inquisition, St. Bartholomew’s Night, the so-called "Sale

of indulgences,” the integrity of certain reformers, etc. Imagine a radical,

prejudiced Frenchman, Austrian or Russian, writing an unbiased version of

the late war
;
imagine an enemy of ex-President Wilson speaking with

fairness of his part in the Versailles Conference; then imagine a pro-

fessional anti-Catholic writing present or quoting past history about the

Catholic church. The unreliability of such “history” is easily apparent
;
but

of this type was most of the history written by anti-Catholics in the Post-

Reformation period.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE US 'DO?

And so when Catholics today make some slight effort to have eliminated

the crude lies and glaring injustices from historical books, why should

they be blamed, much less accused of “Romanizing" or corrupting his-

torical truth. A booklet “Misrepresentations of History” will be mailed
free upon application.

(Write for further information and FREE literature on any subject to
Catholic Truth Society. 304 McKay Bldg:., Portland. Oregon.)



Are Catholics Allowed to Read

the Bible?

How often, kind reader, have you not heard the ancient calumny

—

chat Catholics are forbidden to read the Bible. The truth is that Catholics

are not only NOT FORBIDDEN to read the Bible, but they are en-
couraged and urged to do so. Nay, more, they are obliged to hear Bible-

reading at Mass every Sunday morning. How then explain certain regula-

tions—and temporary restrictions upon Bible-reading in the vernacular

—

heretofore made? Such regulations were (1) to protect the people from

being spiritually poisoned by the corrupted and distorted translations of

designing men; (2) to protect God’s word from vandalism. If the Catholic

church had been hostile to or wished to destroy the Scriptures, as enemies

have said, she had from 1000 to 1400 years during which to do it. The fact,

however, is the church has ever been

THE FAITHFUL GUARDIAN AND PRESERVER OF THE BIBLE

How, except for the zeal of her monks, who with infinite labor copied

the scriptures by hand, would these sacred writings have been available be-

fore the invention of the printing press? During those centuries Bibles

were naturally rare and costly; but preaching, teaching, art, sculpture, etc.,

were all effectively employed as conveyances of Biblical knowledge. When

printing was invented about 1440, one of
-

the earliest, if not the first

printed book was an edition of the Catholic Bible, printed by John Guten-

berg. It is reliably stated that 626 editions of the Catholic Bible, or portions

thereof, had come from the press through the agency of the church in

countries where she reigned supreme, before Luther’s German version

appeared in 1534. Of these, 198 were in various European languages.

Hence Luther’s “discovery” of the supposedly unknown Bible at Erfurt in

1503, is one of those strange wild calumnies with which anti-Catholic

literature abounds.

TODAY, THEREFORE, THE FACT THAT PARTS OF THE
BIBLE ARE READ FROM EVERY CATHOLIC ALTAR EVERY
SUNDAY; THAT THE CHURCH GRANTS A SPIRITUAL PREM-
IUM OR INDULGENCE TO THOSE WHO READ THE BIBLE;
THAT EVERY CATHOLIC FAMILY HAS OR IS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE, THE BIBLE IN THEIR HOMES; THAT MILLIONS OF
CATHOLIC BIBLES ARE SOLD ANNUALLY—-THESE FACTS
SHOULD SATISFY THE MOST SKEPTICAL OF OUR HONEST
CRITICS ON THIS SUBJECT.

(Write for further information and FREE literature on any subject to
Catholic Truth Society, 304 McKay Bldg., Portland, Oregon).