The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-13
Results of the Congress.

BALTIMORE, Nov. 12.-The net result OF
the proceedings of the first Congress OF
Catholic Laymen of the United States WIS
made manifest in the platform adopted
with enthusiastic unanimity.
The platform reioices at the marvellous
development Of the country and regards
with just pride the part taken by the
Catholics therein. In the words of the
pastoral issued by the archbishop and
bishops in the third plenary council: 1--WE
! claim to be acquainted with the laws,
institutions and spirit of the Catholic
church, and with the laws, institutions and
spirit OF our country, and we emphatically
declare that there is no antagOniSm between
them"
I'VE repudiate with equal earnestness
the assertion that we need lay aside any of
our deVotednesS to the church to be true
Americans and the insinuation that we
need abate any Of our love for our
cOuntry's principles or institutions to be
faithful Catholics. We cannot, however,
shut our eyes 10 many of the dangers that
threaten the obstruction of the social fabric
upon which depend our peace, liberty and
free institutions. Although our wealth
has increased and prosperity is around, we
find under the shadow Of this system in
cipient pauperism, discontinued men and
women and children without the benefit Of
education, without the advantages of re-
ligion, deprived of any share in the abund-
ance or participating in the blessings
which, through our free institutions, God
Almighty has assigned for the people Of
our land.
I'VE recognize in Importance, next to re-
ligion itself, education. As in the present
state of the schools no provision is made
for teaching religion, we must continue to
support our own schools, colleges and uni
versities, and multiply and perfect others
so that the benefits Of Christian education
may be brought within the reach OF every
Catholic child.
1--WE also recognize among the three
great educational agencies, besides the
church and school, the Christian home.
Whatever imperils its permanency, secur-
ity and peace. is a blow aimed not only at
the individual, but is an attempt to subyert
civil society and Christian civilization.
Therefore, we denounce the existence and
development Of Mormonisin and the ten
dency to multiply causes of 7ivorces as
plague spots on our civilization. discredit
to our government, degradation of the
female sex and a standing menace to the
sanctitv Of the marriage bond.
eve held it is not sufficient for Catholics
to shun bad or dangerous societies, but
they ought to take part in good and useful
ones. The plan and form OF st. Vincent de
Paul society are commended, but 1t is i'm
possible to enumerate all the societies
whose labors have done so much TO succor
the poor and alleviate hun an mi cry; it
must be left to individual action to select
the field in which TO work
Another danger which menaces our re-
public is the constant conflict betW cen cap
ital and labor We view with regret and
alarm any antagonism between them be-
cause thereby society itself is imperilled.
With the church we condemn Nihilism,
Socialism and Communism, and we equally
condemn the neartless greed of capital
The remedy must be sought in the media
ton of the church, through her action on
the individual conscience and thereby on
Soc ETY., and in such civil enactments as
have been rendered necessary by the al
tered conditions. The employment of
young minors, either male or female, is
The platform pledges cooperation with
the clergy in discussing and solving those
great economic educational and social
questions which affect the interests and
well being of tie church, country aud
society at large.
A protest is entered against any change
in the matter Of education of the Indians
by which they will be deprived of Chris
tian teaching. Assistance to the clergy is