Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-05


they come under the class Of condemned socie-
ties, then Catholics cannot belong to them.
Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Carbonari, Commu-
nists Nihilists, are forbidden to Catholics; Also
oath-bound political societies, whose aims are
revolution against legitimate governmental a
word, all societies that excite riot or bioedshed
or attack the rights OF property, or assail the
civil or private rights Of individuals. These, and
all kindred societies, are forbidden to Catholics,
let their names be what they may. Catholics
joining such societies not only sin, but, dying
without repentance, must be deprived OF
Christian burial
Besides the above, Catholics may not belong
to societies, be they labor unions, benevolent
oath bound or not, which have prayers, a re-
lgiOus hierarchy or religious rite or ritual other
than Catholic, at which the members are re-
CURED to be present and take part. If Catho-
lies have joined societies which the church has
condemned, or If they belong to societies which
the church. through her constituted authorities,
declares unlawful, then they are bound in con-
science let the pecuniary or social loss be what
it may, to leave such societies, being mindful OF
the words of Christ: ''What shall 1t profit man
II he gain the whole world and suffer the loss
of his sOul2"
CATHOLIC SOCIETIES.
The church is no enemy Of societies; on the
contrary. she not. only fosters, but strongly en-
courages their establishment. Nor does it need
that societies be religious that she approve.
The church wishes to encourage her children
both In the temporal and spiritual, but she seeks
that the temporal be made subordinate to the
spiritual. Her motto is: 1.-THE soul first, the
body next"
That society may be approved, 1t is necessa-
~ that its constitution and bylaws shall have
been examined and approved by the bishop of
the diocese in which it is to be established, and
be considered q Catholic society," that the bishop
shall have appointed for it spiritual director,
who shall have a vote on all things appertaning
to faith and morals. In the management of its
affairs there is no desire to interfere with cur
tail the action Of societies; the contrary every
liberty should be given consistent with the above
veto power.
Marriage is the bond Of society; on it depends
the family. Legitimate marriage can be con-
tracted between a man and woman only when
they are free to assume its obligations. The in
sane, relations within certain degrees of kin
dred, those already married, ana not released
by death from the bond contracted, or those
bound by the solemn vows of religion cannot
marry, and any attempt on the part of any in the
above classes to marry would be but an empty
ceremony: Once married, always married. Nor
can church or state or human power dissolve a
marriage contracted between q baptized man
and baptized woman.
The state has no power to dissolve Christian
marriages, nor has the state power to create or
dispense from impediments that God or the
church has made. The religious part of the
marriage contract does not come under the
control OF the state. This is Of God, and is
above and beyond the control of the state to
legis1ate upon But it Is the duty Of the state to
legislate on the civil consequences Of marriage
the property and the personal safety to the
married couple.
DIVORCE.
When the married couple cannot live in peace
and Christian love, both church and state may,
for good and sufficient reasons, grant divorce
from 'bed and board" as it is called, but divorce
by which parties once validity married can again
and validity marry is impossible
"What God hath joined together let no man put
are words that leave no preteXt for
doubt. Death alone dissolves a marriage con-
tracted between baptized man aud q baptized
woman.
This is Catholic doctrine, and Catholic
once validity married cannot be divorced by
either church or state; and if such Catholic at
tempt to remarry before the death of his or her
partner, under the pretence that he or she had
been divorced by the courts, such Catholic must
repentance, be deprived of Christian burial.
DEGREES OF RELATIONSHIP.
Marriage within the fourth degree Of consan-
guinity or affinity is forbidden, and without a
is valid Marriages between first
cousins, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law are alb
hOrrent to the Catholic mind and should never
be found among Christians.
Mixed marriages are also a source of grave
evil, more especially to the woman and the chill
dren. 1t is seldom such marriages do not end
IN loss TO the faith Either the Catholic party
becomes lukewarm, or the children, seeing the
religious contentious of the parents. become
negative, and at last hostile: or If the children
do not entirely lose the faith themselves, there
is the greatest danger that their children WILL
We, therefore, warn Catholics against such mar
riages, and direct that pastors frequently speak
to their fOcks OF the dangers arising from such
unions, remembering how God warned His peO-
pie against marriages with the women of foreign
nations
PROMISES OF MARRIAGE
should be slowly given, and only after PRAYER
and careful consideration. Parents and GUAR
dams should be consulted. and the advice of the
confessor sought. Marriage is too serious a
matter to be hastily entered into. Promises
once made are not to be lightly broken. No
honorable man will triie with the affections of a
woman. nor will q modest woman tritie with the
affections OF man. Often marriage istoo lightly
treated and too hastily entered into. Better be
slow rather than, marrying in haste, be forced
for years to repent.
CIVIL. MARRIAGE.
Marriage before q magistrate is, for Catholics
a sin, and, without a dispensation. If contracted
between Catholic and an unbaptized person, is
invalid. A marriage before Protestant minis
ter is, for Catholic. not only sin, but, in
every diocese of the province, is forbidden un-
der pain OF accommodation ipso facto in
CURED.
The above may appear harsh to modern socie-
ty. with its loose and easy-going notions of mar
rage. but it is the teaching Of Christ and His
Apostles. nor will it change because the world
thnksit harsh. The law of God does not change.
Marriage was ordained of God when He created
man and woman. Its unity was from the be.
ginning and though for a time relaxed, ''be-
cause Of the hardness Of mems hearts" it was
again restored by Christ when He said Who
sOever shall put away his wife and marry
another, coEmitteth adultery against her; and
If the wife shall put away her husband, and
be married to another, she committeth adul-
terry"
Nor can a man be at the same time the hus-
band OftwO wives. Polygamy, though allowed
In the old law, is forbidden in the new law One
man to one woman, and one woman to one
man. is the law of Christian marriage. on whose
sacredness depends the family, and on the
family society. Marriage must be made more
sacred, and its unity more firmly and vioor-
Ously taught, if we are to be saved the disgrace