What Catholics "should they persist ... cannot receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance"

Excerpts, Various | Various | Vatican/Popes/The Holy Office

[Polycarp IV]

...it is a well-known fact that, according to Catholic moral teaching, such parents, should they persist in their attitude, cannot receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance.

Sorry Sink, its been 5 years since I reviewed this stuff.

Rome didn't exactly say it was a mortal sin to send children to public schools, they only said that if parents persisted in doing so they cannot receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance, which infers it is indeed a sin, one grave enough to have to specifically confess.

But you're probably right, these old documents make them Popes look foolish. We all know the problems with public schools of a century ago have pretty much vanished, and that government schools, since the so closely obey all the things outlined above, are no longer a danger to our kids, and their Catholic faith will always be reinforced, enriched and nourished within the hallowed halls of governmental academia.

[Polycarp IV]

Re: Catholic schooling: a look at some old cold hard Truths here. Ping!

[sinkspur]

Rome didn't exactly say it was a mortal sin to send children to public schools, they only said that if parents persisted in doing so they cannot receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance, which infers it is indeed a sin, one grave enough to have to specifically confess.

But, they can receive absolution, since they do, and have for as long as I've been alive, even in pre-Vatican II days. Catholics don't confess that they send their children to public school, since there is absolutely no sin involved.

It is not a sin, of any kind, to send children to public schools. That is absurd on its face, Brian.

[Polycarp IV]

It is not a sin, of any kind, to send children to public schools.

Really? What has transpired to abbrogate all the sound principles above? Have public schools miraculously ceased to be a threat to the Faith?

(You know I'm just playing devil's advocate, Sink. I don't think its always sinful to send children to public schools, but sometimes it still is. Each parent should at least be familiar with all the principles outlined here before making such a choice.)

[gbcdoj]

Here's Pope Bl. Pius IX on the subject:

48. Catholics may approve of the system of educating youth unconnected with Catholic faith and the power of the Church, and which regards the knowledge of merely natural things, and only, or at least primarily, the ends of earthly social life.—Ibid.

[Polycarp IV]

Context? Which encyclical?

[Polycarp IV]

Also, read Pope Pius XI's subsequent comments above. Pope Pius XI appears to contradict Pope Bl. Pius IX earlier statement you posted.

[gbcdoj]

The Syllabus.

[gbcdoj]

To me it looks like he agrees with Bl. Pius IX:

For the mere fact that a school gives some religious instruction (often extremely stinted), does not bring it into accord with the rights of the Church and of the Christian family, or make it a fit place for Catholic students. To be this, it is necessary that all the teaching and the whole organization of the school, and its teachers, syllabus and text-books in every branch, be regulated by the Christian spirit, under the direction and maternal supervision of the Church;

[don-o]

Each parent should at least be familiar with all the principles outlined here before making such a choice

Indeed. Some Southern Baptists are sounding more Catholic than the Catholics. There is a movemen to resolve that Baptists should remove their children from the state schools.

Not a nut who is running this up the flag pole, either.

He has a Harvard degree

[TradicalRC]

An oldie but a goodie.
It doesn't strike me as absurd in the least but actually profound and sensitive.

We American Catholics have been so bludgeoned by secularism that we seem no longer capable of seeing what was crystal clear a mere century and a half ago.

Public education is malum in se in theory and practice.

[jjackson]

Nice!

[Polycarp IV]

Catholics may approve of the system of educating youth unconnected with Catholic faith

Is this the correct wording, gbcdoj?

If so, I'm confused. How is Pius IX in agreement with Pius XI?

[jjackson]

Check this out.

[Siobhan]

Thank you for posting that. It reënforces the fact that Catholics today cannot send their children to public schools in the USA where they are not merely taught regarding "the knowledge of merely natural things, and only, or at least primarily, the ends of earthly social life" but rather are taught a vast array of things within a pedagogical and philosophical system that is anti-Catholic in its substance and in its result.

How fascinating that the instruction of Pope Bl. Pius IX intending one thing in one era would now be so salutary and beneficial in ours. This kind of wisdom and evidence of prophetic instruction should be reported to those in Rome evaluating his Cause. This is very helpful and striking.

[Siobhan]

Vere!

[narses]

"Thank you for posting that. It reënforces the fact that Catholics today cannot send their children to public schools in the USA where they are not merely taught regarding "the knowledge of merely natural things, and only, or at least primarily, the ends of earthly social life" but rather are taught a vast array of things within a pedagogical and philosophical system that is anti-Catholic in its substance and in its result."

Bravo!

[gbcdoj]

Oh, I see you're not familar with the Syllabus - it is a list of errors, ie:

6. The faith of Christ is in opposition to human reason and divine revelation not only is not useful, but is even hurtful to the perfection of man.—Ibid.

[Polycarp IV]

Duh! (Slaps self upside the head!)

Thanks.