The National tribune., 1891-09-17
ROMAN CATHOLICISM.
ICnniinned nom Iirst nnce.l

her duty to see to it that all schemes devised
are founded in Christian principles and do not
antagouize the law Of nature and the law Of
Z God.
An illustration Of her position in this social
question Of labor and capital was given few
years ago, when on the representation OF the
American Hierarchy the Holy Father !orebore
10 take action against the Knights Of Labor,
thus admitting that labor has rights in the face
of capital and IS justified in
ASSERTING THOSE RIGHTS
as long as the means employed are not against
natural Justice or divine law.
On that occasion a very great service was
rendered TO the country. % the labOring masses,
and to the capitalist class also. For is it not
better for capital to find itself in the presence
OF moral right and force than in the presence
of physical might and brute force? That SER
vice IS but the earnest Of many TO come in the
same line for which the country may have 10
bless and thank the Catholic Church. She
alOno Of all religious bodies has the authority
to speak frankly the truth to all. rich and
poor, and the moral power 90 enforce that
truth on the prOudeT classes and on the hum
bier but more dangerous because more ag-
grieyed masses.
One great evil that threatens the American
people is divorce. Divorce means contempt
of the marriage bond, avoidance Of the respon-
sibilities and duties Of family life; 10 means
the sapping of society at its very sources. The
nation where divorce is Of wide extension and
long continuance must perish. Such is the
verdict of logic and history. The Catholic
Church
NEVER ALLOWS COMPLETE DIVORCE,
but allows for certain good reasons Limited
divorce" or separation from bed and board.
This limited divorce is hardly known or
sought after by nom Catholics; for out Of 32S.-
7l6 divorces granted between the years 1861
and 1856, only 2,099 were limited divorces
and no doubt many if not all OF these were
granted to Catholic parties. That was a reve-
lation to make a lover Of his country pause in
saddest musing that report made on order Of
Congress by Carroll d. Wright. Within 20
years ,7l6 divorces had been granted in the
United States. Within that period the popu-
lation had increased so per cent, the divorces
IJ7 per cent.
The different aspects Of this statistical report
deserve study. Out of these many aspects I
wish TO present one that has q bearing on the
main purpose Of this paper. In Connecticut
there was in the years 1874, 70, one divorce for
every SSI and S.8l marriages. Gradually this
proportion diminished to one divorce for every
1903 marriages in 1856. In Vermont the pro-
portion was in 1874, 70, one divorce 10 1497
and l426 marriages; in l--6 one divorce to
2O.06 marriages. In Massachusetts in 1873 one
divorce to - - marriages in l556 the pro-
portion one divorce to 81 marriages. Mean
while in all the other States the proportion was
on a steady increase.
Now the question is, how account for the
decrease in tho abOve-named States? Here is
the account in one word: The increase Of the
Catholic population in those States. 10 is we'll
worth while quoting n remark Of Mr. Carroll
ID. Wright on this point:
However great and growing be the number
of divorces in tho United States, it is an incon-
tcstabe fact that it would be still greater. were
1t not for the widespread influence Of the
Roman Catholic Church"
The only remedy to this terrible evil is
return to the legislation Of the Church. which
is the legislation of Jesus Christ himself, on
matrimony
The Divine institution Of a day of rest from
ordinary occupations and Of religious worship,
transferred by the authority Of the Church
from the Sabbath, the last day, 10 Sunday, the
first day Of the week, has