Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-13
CATHOLIC CONGRESS-.
The Laymen's Platform Of
Principles.
LOYALTY TO CHURCH AND STATE
Closing Sessions Of the Baltimore
notwithstanding Patriotic
Demonstrations.
Associated Press Dispatches 80 the HERALD

Associated Press Dispatches TO the HERALD.
BALTIMORE, November 12.-Tonight
the net result OF the first Congress OF
Catholic Laymen of the United States
was made manifest in a platform adopted
with enthusiastic unanimity. The plat
form rejoices at the marvellous develop
ment of the country, and regards with
just pride the part taken by Catholics
therein. In the words of the pastoral
issued by the archbishop and bishops in
the third Plensry Council, the platform
continues: 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 there is no
antsgonism between them"
We repudiate with equal earnestness
the assertion that we need lay aside
any of our devotedness TO the church to
be true Americans, and the insi nuaton
that we need abate any of our love for
our country's principles and institutions
to be faithful Catholics. We can:
not, however, shut our eyes to
the many dangers that threaten the
destruction of the social fabrication on
which depends our peace, liberty and
free institutions. Although our wealth
has increased and prosperity abounds,
we find under the shadow of this system
incipient pauperism, discontented men,
women and children, without the bene.
fts of education, without the advantages
of religion, deprived of any share in the
abundance, or participation in the bless.
ings, which through our free institutions
God Almighty has designed for the peo.
pie Of our land.
We recognize next in importance to
religion itself, education. AS in the
State schools no provision is made for
teaching religion, We must continue to
support our own schools, colleges and
universities, and multiply and perfect
others so that the benefit of tho Christian
religion may be brought within the
reach of every Catholic child.
We also recognize among the three
great educational agencies, besides the
church and school, the Christian home.
Whatever imperils its permanency,
security and peace, is a blow aimed not
only at individual rights, but is an at
tempt to subvert civil society and
Christian civilization. Therefore we de-
nounce the existsace and development
of Mormonisn and tho tendency to mul.
tiply the caases of divorce, as plague
spots on our civilization, discredit to
our Government, degradation of tue
female sex and standing menace to the
sanctity of the marriage bond.
We hold that 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 the 81. Vincent de Paul society
are commended, bnt as it is impossible
to enumerste all the societies whose la
bors have done SO much to euccor
the poor and alleviate human misery, it
must be left to individual action TO
select fields in which to work.
Another danger which menaees our rs.
public ID the constant conflict between
capital and labor. We view with regret
and alarm any autagonism between
them, because thereby society itself
is impsriled. With the church
We condemn nihilism, socialism and
communism, and we equally condemn
the hearsless greed OF capital. The rem
edy must be sought in the mediation of
the church through her action on the in.
dividual conscience.
The employment of young minors,
either male or female, is disapproved.
The platform pledges cooperation with
the clergy in discussing aud solving thoge
great economic, educational and social
questions which affect the interests and
we'll. being Of the church, the country
and society at large. A protest is en-.
tered against any change in tne matter
of the education of the Indians, by which
they shall bs deprived Of Christian teach.
ing. Assistance to the clergy is pledged
in all ways tending to affect any i'm.
provemeDt i'll the physical or moral CON
dition of the negro race.
The platform favors Catholics taking
p greater palS than heretofore in general
philanthropie and reformatory move.
ments. On this head the platform saws:
By mingling more in such works Of NA-
tional virtue as non-Catholic citizens are
engaged in, and taking q proper share in
the management Of prisons and hospi-
tails, we might exert G Catholic influence
outside of our own body; at the same
time We are solacing the unfortunate and
reforming the erring. We should be
able to insist on Catholic in
mates being freely administered to by
their own clergy, ,and we must assert
and secure the right Of conscience
of Catholics in all institutions
under public control. There are many
Christian issues in which Catholics could
come together with mont Catholics and
shape civil legislation for public good
Ia spite of rebuff and injustice and over
looking zealotry, we should seek alliance
with non. Catholics for proper Sunday OBJ
To effect this we must
set our faces sternly against
the sale of Intoxicating beverages
on Sunday. The eorrupting influence
of saloons in politics, the crime and pau
perism resulting from excessive drinking,
require legislative restriction which We
can aid in procuring by joining our inflo-
ence with that OF other enemiea OF intem-
perance. We favor tho passage and
enforcement OF laws rigidly closing
saloone on Sunday, and torbidding the
sale Of liquors to minors and intoxicated
persons.
The platform recommends Catholics to
subscribe more generally for Catholic
and looks with eagerness
for the establishment Of daily Catholic
newspapers in the large cities, and q
Catholic associated press agency. 1t