Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-21
By Father DeSiere
(Catholic.)

The Roman Catholic church takes the
most pronounced position on the sacred
ness of matrimony. Marriage in the
Catholic church is sacrament like bap-
tism. Rev Peter De Siere, pastor of ST.
Patricks, is recognized as one OF the best
theologists in the wsst, and his opinions
on divorce and its effect on society are
just as doctrinal as if they We're deliver
ed by Cardinal Gibbons.
Father De Siere. before coming TO
America, taught in one of the eccleaie sti-
cal colleges of Belgium.
Following is the communication Fa-
ther De Sere submitted to the Inter
Mountain:
What God hath united, let no man
put asunder'
We are always surprised at a Chris
tian asking an opinion about divorce. as
divorce is understood in our country
l. e., privilege to enter into another
union 1t matters not what opinions
some may hold; divorce thus understood
does not exist. God does not recognize
it. When man and a woman are legiti-
mately married. neither of them can
afterwards enter INTO a new union. 1t is
not the Catholic church but it is God
himself who looks upon such an attempt
null and VOID What does it matter
if | should say. the Big Butte stands
on the West side of our city," and you
should say the Big Butte does not
stand on the west side of the city?" The
Big Butte stands there, all the same:
and SO a legitimate marriage stands just
as firm. Death alone can break it.
Whether our civil law permits another
union or not. after divorce has been OBJ
tanned. in the eyes of God such union is
mere concuDinage-it cannot be called by
any other name. 1t is proper for every
Catholic to uphold this view of divorce,
both in public and private life.
The doctrine of Christ is clear and per-
tinent. Every one that putteth away
his wife and marrieth another commit
teth adultery: and he that marrieth her
that is put away from her husband, COM
mitteth adultery" says ST. Luke. This
is certainly clear. Again. St. Paul to
the Corinthians: "To them that are
married. not l but the Lord commandeth
thar the wife depart not from her hus-
band; and if she depart, that she remain
unmarried.'
Our church was always known for her
answering tirmness on this question.
The history of Henry VIII IS familiar to
almost every one. The pope foresaw all
the troubles that would follow if he de-
MED Henry's petition for divorce: but h,
steadily declared the holy see had no
power in the matter. God haal united
Henry and Catherine, and no man couiu
break their marriage bonds.
Not less famous is the case of Philip
Augustus. king of France. Pope Inno-
cent III compelled this sovereign to dis
mis- 1p ria ba
ried unlawfully. and take back his law
ful wife, lngelburga.
Many examples might be quoted where
the heads Of the church fought manfully
for the sacredness of marriage. always
declaring that they had no authority to
nullify the sacrament, and ever answer
ing, What God hath united, let no man
put asunder.' No doubt this tirmness of
the church largely contributed to the sta
biEty Of marriage and to the. building up
of home and family. Our fear is great
that the laxity of civil law will invite
grave danger to the commonwealth.
The human family is the basis OF So
ciety. If you undermine the family, you
undermine and destroy society and go
back to barbarsm. To our mind, nc
graver danger is presented to our glori-
Gus republic than the facility with which
divorces are granted and new unions
permitted.
We are fully cognizant of the objec-
tons and reasons which many people
urge against this doctrine of the church
and the sentimentaity behind it al
pleading in behalf of woman married
to drunken and brutal husband. 1t i.
sentiment alone which pleads; not reas
oning. God announced the law-he doe!
not recognize the union of divorced
person to another. Dura lex. sed lex
Hard is the law in some cases; yet i
remains the law. Big Butte stands
there, whether like it or not. A legiti
mate marriage stands firm and un
shaken, except by death alone. Society
for it's own preservation, should uphol'
the law of God. If you open the door t
any exception, human passions are s.
violent that many will creep through
PETER DE SIERE,
Pastor of st. Patricks.