But against this most sacred product of American liberty Rome lifts her unholy hands. Against our schools she hurls her worst anathemas. But it is our purpose in this chapter to let the Roman Catholic Church speak for itself. Its language is plain and needs no interpretation. Listen to Rome's damnable utterances:
"These public schools are devouring fires and pits of destruction. They ought to go back to the devil, from whence they came."—The Freeman's Journal.
"If your son or daughter is attending a state school you may be sure that you are violating your duty as Catholic parents and conducting to the everlasting anguish and despair of your child. Take it away. Let it rather never know how to write its name than to become the bound and chained slave of satan."—The Shepherd of the Valley.
"The common schools of this country are sinks of moral pollution and nurseries of hell."—Chicago Tablet.
"The public or common school system is a swindle on the people, an outrage on justice, a foul disgrace in matters of morals, and should be abolished forthwith."—New York Tablet.
"The hideous fetish, called the public school, is only an ugly idol after all."—Colorado Catholic.
"It will be a glorious day for Roman Catholics in this country when, under the laws of justice and morality, our school system shall be shivered to pieces."—Catholic Telegraph.
"We hold education to be a function of the church and not of the state, and in our case we do not and will not accept the state as an educator."—New York Tablet.
They love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Listen to the snarls of Rome's "dupes:"
"Unless you suppress the public school system as at present conducted, it will prove the damnation of this country."—Father Walker.