Purpose
In view of my experience, I can not but conclude that the ethos of the Catholic Church and its representatives was entirely devoid of any notion of providing those children placed in its care what their fate had denied them; love, care, stability and security.
The sole concern of the Catholic Church, as extracts from the article in The Tablet of March 1st 1873 clearly indicate, was the indoctrination of any children to which they could lay claim:
In view of my experience, I can not but conclude that the ethos of the Catholic Church and its representatives was entirely devoid of any notion of providing those children placed in its care what their fate had denied them; love, care, stability and security.
The sole concern of the Catholic Church, as extracts from the article in The Tablet of March 1st 1873 clearly indicate, was the indoctrination of any children to which they could lay claim:
...Catholic children are at this time being brought up as Protestants in those (workhouse) schools, and are therefore being day by day robbed of their faith... the Boards of Guardians...know our poor children to be Catholics. They know that their parents, in the midst of their poverty, have but one thing left to them, the inheritance of their faith which they prize above all; that their heart's desire and prayer is, that their children may be brought up in the faith of their fathers. Nevertheless they detain them knowingly and consciously in schools where no Catholic teacher can really train them; where the whole teaching is Protestant; where the atmosphere and influence of the school are certain to destroy in these poor children the lessons they had learned from their parents...'
The flagrant wrong now inflicted on them, and on their Catholic parents, is brought out into light...They are robbed of their faith because they are penniless.
Before we proceed further, we will lay down what is necessary for an adequate provision for the education of Catholic, children.
The flagrant wrong now inflicted on them, and on their Catholic parents, is brought out into light...They are robbed of their faith because they are penniless.
Before we proceed further, we will lay down what is necessary for an adequate provision for the education of Catholic, children.
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1. From its earliest years a Catholic child ought to be taught to pray, and care ought to be used to ensure that it fulfils this duty. Who shall teach Catholic prayers to our children in the workhouse schools? No person ought to be entrusted with such a duty except a Catholic.
2. As soon as they are capable they ought to be taught, not only the words of the Catechism, but the true sense and meaning of it...(this) needs a daily, constant, and detailed instruction of each child, one by one. 3. In like manner, from the earliest time possible, they ought to be prepared for the Holy Sacraments. 4. When duly prepared, they ought to receive the Sacraments regularly; which is equally impossible unless there be a chapel on the spot, or a Catholic church close by. 5. It is also necessary that they should attend divine service, at least on Sundays. |
The chapel at St. Mary's Home.
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In point 1 of the above extract the use of the word 'it' to refer to a child indicates a totally 'impersonal' attitude towards children - who, indeed, were not considered as individuals with their own specific needs to be attended to. The vocabulary used also clearly indicates that endocrination of their charges was the sole priority; at no point is there reference to any concern to provide for the emotional and physical welfare such children would, above all, be in need of.
The article goes on:
On a late occasion the guardians of a London parish refused to transfer two children duly applied for...two of our clergy have in succession endeavoured to instruct the children of that school...On each successive visit the conduct of the children became more and more unmanageable, their manners more rude, and their numbers grew less. At one time some twelve or fourteen came to declare that they had 'turned,' that is, that they did not wish to be Catholics. The truth was at once evident. They had been subjected to the petty persecution which children know how to inflict. The great majority, being Protestant, had estranged these poor children from their clergy, and made them ashamed of the faith of their fathers... (a) grievous wrong.
Never at any time was the education of children more vital than now. All the devices of the world and of Satan are conspiring to destroy the Christian education of Europe. To form a child in God's image by His holy faith and fear, is a divine work. To rob a child of this formation, is the deed and service of Satan. We are hand to hand with the enemies of God and of His Christ ; and the conflict is round about the souls of unconscious children."
On a late occasion the guardians of a London parish refused to transfer two children duly applied for...two of our clergy have in succession endeavoured to instruct the children of that school...On each successive visit the conduct of the children became more and more unmanageable, their manners more rude, and their numbers grew less. At one time some twelve or fourteen came to declare that they had 'turned,' that is, that they did not wish to be Catholics. The truth was at once evident. They had been subjected to the petty persecution which children know how to inflict. The great majority, being Protestant, had estranged these poor children from their clergy, and made them ashamed of the faith of their fathers... (a) grievous wrong.
Never at any time was the education of children more vital than now. All the devices of the world and of Satan are conspiring to destroy the Christian education of Europe. To form a child in God's image by His holy faith and fear, is a divine work. To rob a child of this formation, is the deed and service of Satan. We are hand to hand with the enemies of God and of His Christ ; and the conflict is round about the souls of unconscious children."
The extract below from the same issue of The Tablet, refers specifically to Tudhoe Certified Poor Law School:
"EDUCATION FOR CATHOLIC CHILDREN.—...the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, after dwelling at some length on the necessity of Christians not being conformed to the world, calls...attention... to the case of Catholic poor children: "There exists in the diocese a charitable institution, that has for its object the maintenance and education of poor destitute Catholic children, and especially those that are detained in workhouses. We regret to have it to say, that this institution has not met with the support which, we had hoped, there were both means and charity enough in the diocese to secure to it. We refer to the Certified Poor Law School, or Catholic Home for destitute children, which was commenced at Tudhoe now nearly five years ago, and has been in working order since September, 1871. ...Owing greatly to the jealousy of the Poor Law Guardians; only twenty-four children have so far been received into the institution, and even some of them are not children who have been redeemed from workhouses, but are destitute children for whose maintenance a weekly sum of about four shillings has been guaranteed in payment. It is needless to say, that the institution is not, as yet, selfsupporting. We, therefore, feelingly appeal to your charity, on behalf of an establishment, which, if it only be well supported, will be the means of affording a home to numbers of poor Catholic children, where they will be shielded from vice, taught their religion, and so trained, as that, it may be hoped, they will prove good and useful members of society."
Taught their religion and trained they were. Shielded from vice? You are invited to read on and decide for yourself...
