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Seton Hall University eRepository @ Seton Hall New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission Archives and Special Collections newsletters Winter 1990 New Jersey Catholic Records Newsletter, Vol. 9, No.1-2 New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/njchc Part of the History Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission, "New Jersey Catholic Records Newsletter, Vol. 9, No.1-2" (1990). New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission newsletters. 25. https://scholarship.shu.edu/njchc/25 RSEY ~JU~ RECORDS COMMISSIO '>t TlIl\, HAll ut\ilvl H'>I'" VOLUME IX NOS. 1 and 2 WINTER/SPRING 1990 eligious freedo a reform school: a ard-fought figh "During the last few days," wrote Bishop New Jersey by the question of supplying When the Reform School opened, no Michael Corrigan in his journal, "we religious instruction and religious Catholic parish existed in Jamesburg and have had a great deal of trouble about services to individuals in state institu­ the nearest Catholic priest, Father charter for Catholic Protectory. Severnl tions, most particularly the State Reform Frederick Kivilitz ofFreehold, tried to stormy debates in the Legislature, and School at Jamesburg. provide instruction and religious services sharp newspaper articles. Our bill asking to the Catholic inmates. When he was charter and per capita appropriation This facility was established in 1865 and rebuffed by the superintendent, the altered and emasculated in the Legisla­ began operating in 1867. By 1875, 200 Catholic Union stepped in on behalf ofall ture by our friends on both sides. Finally, Catholics and petitioned the board of the whole measure was defeated." trustees to provide access for Father Kivilitz. The Catholic Union was a lay This brief entry by the second bishop of organization established in several Newark recorded the loss ofa lengthy dioceses in the 1870s for the purpose of battle in an even longer campaign to defending Catholic interests. In the secure religious freedom and religious diocese ofNewark, which then embraced services for Catholics committed to state the entire state of New Jersey, it took institutions in New Jersey. particular interest in helping the poor, especially children, in improving Whatever arguments historians and Catholic education, in circulating jurists may engage in about the religious Catholic literature and, at least partly convictions of the Founding Fathers or because ofCorrigan's concern, in their intent in framing the First Amend­ providing for the spiritual welfare of ment to the federnl constitution, there is Catholics in public institutions. When no doubt that during the 19th century a the trustees of the Reform School also vast number of Americans took it for refused access for a Catholic priest, the granted, and loudly proclaimed, that the Catholic Union appealed to the State United States was a Protestant country. Board ofControl, consisting of the Michael Augustine Corrigan as a young Not unnaturally, their elected representa­ priest. governor, chiefjustice and chancellor. tives often-perhaps usually-shared this This body, too, refused to change the sentiment. boys between the ages of8 and 16, many regulations. of them Catholics, were committed there. As the fIrst substantial organized group The school sought to provide moral, in­ Letters ofappeal having failed, the of non-Protestants to flood the country, tellectual and vocational instruction to the Catholic Union turned to the State Catholics repeatedly ran into problems in inmates. The moral instruction was in Legislature and in February 1874 Assem­ trying to exercise their religious freedom the hands of the Superintendent, a blyman Alexander McDonnell introduced within a political and social framework Protestant minister who conducted a measure which allowed the free sufficiently non-denominational to be religious worship and religious instruc­ practice of their faith by boys ofevery acceptable to most Protestants, but too tion which all the boys were obliged to denomination, and forbade any child to Protestant to be acceptable to Catholics. attend. Corrigan noted in his journal that be compelled to attend religious services The recurring incidents and debates about at "stated times they [all the boys] are of a faith not his own. Arguments that public schools provide one example of marched in procession to the Presbyterian the difficulty. Another was provided in church in Jamesburg." continued on page 2 continued from page 1 The new measure had been introduced by the Reform School practice violated the Senator (later Governor) Leon Abbett of provisions of the state constitution, which Hudson County and required that specifically stated that no one could be recognized clergymen be admitted to compelled to attend a place of worship state institutions to give spiritual advice contrary to his faith and judgment, and conduct services for their congre­ carried no weight, and McDonnell's gants, required administrators of stale measure was easily defeated in March institutions to supply facilities for such 1874. services, and forbade the imposition of religious services on anyone not of the The Catholics ofNew Jersey had long given faith. While Abbett's bill might been aware of the problem in the State seem merely to confmn the religious Reform School and had since at least the liberty guarantees of the federal and stale late 1860s been considering the establish­ constitutions, Senator John Taylor of ment ofa comparable institution under Essex County found that these only their own control to care for and educate applied to good citizens, and that the Catholics who might otherwise be "prisoners have forfeited many of their committed to a state institution. Already rights by a course of crime," including, in 1873, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd presumably, their right to religious had accepted Corrigan's invitation to Corrigan early in his episcopal career. choice. open a home for girls in the diocese, and that project would mature with the When the Legislature convened in 1875, On April 7, 1875, McAnemey wrote opening of the Convent of the Good Assemblyman Patrick Boyle of Essex Corrigan that a telegram from Abbett Shepherd on High Street in Newark in County introduced a bill to incorporate informed him that both bills had been May 1875. the New Jersey Catholic Protectory. It killed in the Senate, the emasculated allowed the institution to receive any Protectory measure by a vote of 8 to 12, The defeat of McDonnell's bill spurred child under 18 committed by his parents and Abbett's religious liberty bill by 5 to renewed efforts to provide a similar or a judge, and to receive $125 per year 15. "It is too bad," he added, "chiefly facility for boys. As early as 1869, a per child, provided this did not exceed 75 because it makes one think so meanly of meeting of the clergy of the diocese had percent of the cost of maintaining a child his intelligent (?) Protestant fellow­ supported the establishment of such a in a state institution. Although these citizens." He found some consolation, facility, but numerous problems had provisions paralleled those already in however, in the thought that the Senate slowed development. Now a flurry of effect in New York, opposition was soon had been forced to vote on the measures activity occurred. Bishop Corrigan roused, particularly by Assemblyman and had not been able to bury them. conferred with seveml people, particu­ William H. Kirk ofEssex. The Trenton larly John McAnerney, president of the Daily State Gazette revealed its attitude Bishop Corrigan seems to have found Hudson County Catholic Union, and after in the comment that the "genius of our little consolation in that thought He several sites had been rejected, obtained a liberal institutions banishes the supersti­ pursued the establishment of the Catholic location in Denville in August 1874. tions of ignorance and the children Protectory without state aid or approba­ This Morris County site consisted of 211 become Americans and Protestants at the tion, and on May 1, 1875 sent a circular acres and, Corrigan noted in his journal, same time." Despite vigorous opposition letter to all parishes describing both the was "well provided with barns, etc. in the Assembly and in the press, the recently acquired Denville site and the There is a fme brick Mansion on the measure passed the lower house, 36-20. Convent of the Good Shepherd in place, with 16 rooms, and a new frame Newark, into which the Sisters were building, two stories high. Site very In the Senate, Boyle's bill faced even about to move. He also required that a healthy. It is three quarters ofa mile stiffer opposition. Referred to commit­ special collection be taken up in the from Railway Station. Price, $30,000." tee, it fIrst seemed unlikely that it would diocese annually for the support of the emerge at all. Then the committee two institutions, until they could become With a facility in hand, if not yet paid for, removed the provision for public support self-supporting. Corrigan and his advisers turned to the ofchildren who would otherwise be task of supporting the institution and of public charges, and, late in March 1875 The Protectory opened in October 1875 insuring that Catholic children be sent John McAnemey wrote to Corrigan that and within a year had 64 boys under the there instead of to the state reform before the measure was returned to the guidance of the Brothers of the Poor of school. In October 1874 he visited the Senate the provision for commitment by 5t. Francis. Over the years the number New York Catholic Protectory and a judge would also be removed. He of boys increased, but financial difficul­ conferred with its founders and superin­ commented more cheerfully in the same ties continually harassed the administra­ tendent. He was particularly interested in letter that a "religious liberty" bill tion.

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