§ 2. On attendance at non-Catholic schools

In our times the school is a most fertile field both for good morals and sound religious doctrine and for the corruption of all morality and religion. All the enemies of the Church, plainly recognizing this most powerful efficacy of the school, with united forces strive that the Catholic faith and religion be rooted out from the minds of adolescents. Hence it is plainly evident what vehement dangers arise for adolescents from attendance at bad schools.

Non-Catholic schools are of diverse kinds: 1. positively non-Catholic and harmful, in which heresy or infidelity is openly and deliberately taught. Such are the so-called confessional schools of Protestants and unbelievers; 2. neutral (simultaneous, parity, mixed), which in instruction abstract from every positive religion and provide only profane instruction.⁷⁴

⁷⁴ Proposition (48) of the Syllabus, condemned by Pius IX, must be attended to: "To Catholic men that plan of educating youth can be approved which is separated from the Catholic faith and from the power of the Church, and which regards only the knowledge of natural things and the ends of earthly social life alone, or at least primarily" (Denz. n. 1748).

528. Principle. It is never licit to attend schools in which the proximate danger of perversion cannot be removed.⁷⁵

The reason is obvious; for it is not licit to expose oneself to the proximate danger of perversion. - Almost always positively non-Catholic schools introduce such proximate danger of perversion, because in them heresy is deliberately defended, pupils are compelled to recite heretical prayers and to be present at false rites. Hence it is not licit except in great necessity to attend such non-Catholic schools, and indeed with necessary cautions having been posited.

Nor are neutral schools always free from proximate danger of perverting adolescents. For in those schools almost necessarily indifferentism is fostered in the hearts of the pupils, who see teachers and fellow-pupils not caring much about religion or even openly attacking it. Besides, the dignity of religion is diminished in the minds of adolescents if they see it, as lacking public honor, relegated within domestic walls. Then not rarely also the good morals of the pupils are placed in great danger, since it is most difficult without the help of religion to restrain disordered passions so vehement in youth. From this it is clear that even in neutral schools proximate danger of perversion is often present, and therefore attendance at them is evil. Hence deservedly the Plenary Council of Latin America, celebrated in the year 1899, decreed:⁷⁶ "Therefore Catholic parents and guardians of pupils, with every authority by which we have power, we not only exhort but command, to keep away the offspring committed to them from schools in which the authority of the Church and the salutary influence of our religion are excluded, unless perhaps the circumstances are such that, for a sufficient cause approved by the bishop and with opportune cautions and remedies, attendance at schools of this kind in particular cases and for a time can be tolerated." Similar things the Roman Curia established on repeated occasions.⁷⁷ - From these things it is clear that judgment concerning the quality of a school and concerning the sufficiency of causes pertains to the Ordinary of the place, and not to anyone else. Thus also the Code of Canon Law, c. 1374, expressly decreed.

It can scarcely be said in which neutral schools the dangers of perversion are greater: whether in primary and secondary schools, or in Academies and Universities. Nevertheless, since today there are few Catholic Academies and Universities, more easily because of dire necessity are young men excused who attend neutral Universities and Academies. Parents who without sufficient reason send their children into neutral schools sin gravely and are not worthy of absolution. The reason is that they expose their children without sufficient reason to danger of perversion.

The means by which the proximate danger of perversion can be removed are: a) diligently to watch lest Catholic pupils suffer harm from bad books, bad fellow-pupils, irreligious teachers; b) to instruct Catholic pupils sufficiently from elsewhere in religion and good morals; c) to induce Catholic pupils to frequent reception of the sacraments and to a pious life.

⁷⁵ In almost the same words the Instruction of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide to the bishops of the United States of North America, November 24, 1875, approved by Pius IX, speaks about this matter: "But unless this danger of perversion is made remotely proximate, such schools cannot be attended with a safe conscience. This even the natural and divine law itself proclaims."

⁷⁶ n. 667.

⁷⁷ The cited Instruction of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide; Instruction of the Holy Office to the bishops of Switzerland, March 21, 1866; Cod. iur. can. c. 1374.

529. Offices in non-Catholic schools. Here the question arises whether a Catholic can licitly undertake the office of teacher or inspector in schools of this kind, non-Catholic or neutral. - In every case a proportionately grave cause is required so that a Catholic can cooperate in those schools so dangerous. In higher schools and in Academies and Universities today in mixed regions a sufficient cause can quite easily be present for a Catholic to assume the office of teacher. Hence in Germany, England, Switzerland, Holland, America, etc., we see distinguished Catholic men as teachers in neutral Gymnasia and Universities. But in Catholic regions, if scandal arises from undertaking such a function, it is not licit for a Catholic to be a teacher in schools of this kind. But in positively non-Catholic schools and in neutral primary schools a Catholic very rarely and not except from a very grave cause can licitly assume the office of teacher, since he is accustomed to cause grave scandal, to furnish cooperation to evil, and to cast himself into danger of his own perversion.

"Whether it is licit for a priest to hand down specially the documents of Christian faith to Catholic pupils of [neutral] schools, whether within their enclosures or elsewhere, as when they have been called together in a church for this, or to perform for them any function of chaplain (aumonier)?" The Holy Office on March 21, 1866, responded: "Affirmatively, and according to the mind: the mind is that care is to be taken that not only priests but also honest laymen of known religion, so far as this can be done, be placed over the schools for handing down Christian faith and also other disciplines; but so that every fear of scandal may cease, the people must be admonished that this is done so that the evils which flow from schools of this kind may be averted as far as can be done; and that this consequently ought not be an excuse to anyone for not sending their children to purely Catholic schools, in which their faith and morals are in no way endangered."⁷⁸

⁷⁸ Collect. de Prop. Fide n. 1286.