The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-06-18
GERMAN CATHOLICS AGAINST DIVORCE.

At its recent convention i'll Jeerson City the
German Catholic State Union of Missouri went out
of the beaten path by passing strong resolution
against the growing divorce evil. The Review re-
produces the same in full:
Marriage is infinitely than a civil con-
tract, and the contrary doctrine denounce as
false illogical and degrading. We hold that the
sacred bond that untes husband and wife IN mar
riage cannot be broken and is not Dissolved until
death do them part.
eve deplore as a national disgrace the prevalent
divorce evil that has fixed upon country the
Infamous distinction of being among all civilized
nations of the globe the most reckless dsturber OF
the marriage tie, the most frivolous destroyer OF
homes. We believe that modern history holds torth
no record of any moral calamity greater than mas
befallen our country in consequence OF the loss OF
right principles and the resultant moral corruption
horrifying both in character and extent, which is
traceabe to the terrible axity of the several states
in exercising an alleged power, by so-caled abSo-
lutte divorce to dissolve the bond of marriage-a
bond which we hold the state cannot and does not
create which is beyond its CONTROL and which there
fore it cannot destroy. Against this shameless
condition we raise our voice Ill earnest and solemn
protest.
eat the same time we were gratified to know
that the evils of divorce are becoming recognized
more and more. We note with satisfaction that
there has been for some time past, great cutlery
all over the country against this mortal plague OF
divorce and we hope that this opposition Will swell
to overwhelming proportions, so as to assure the
stamping out of the evil. Believing as do that
there is but one efficient remedy for the evil, we
heartily welcome every approach to the Catholic
ideal of marriage, the only true view, that man
may not put asunder what God hath Joined to-
gether.'*)
Gas citizens of Missouri regret that the law
of our State contains most loose principles upon
the subject of marriage and so-caled divorce. We,
therefore out of a sence of decency and out of
sense of right and as citizens of our beloved
monwealth of Missouri, having the welfare of our
State at heart, are justified In demanding, and we
do hereby demand:
81 The adjustment of the sanction of law Civ
en- to that certain form of concubnage known as
the common-law marriage. This so-caled mar
riaqe is without excuse in a civilized and we'll
regulated community, and to entitle the parties to
such concubinage to bear the sacred names of hus-
band and wife, is an insult to respectable members
of the community. Every such so-called marriage
shall by law be held to be null and void.
SO. We demand the repeal of the divorce law of
Missouri for the reasons among others herein above
enumerated and we respectfully urge the egisa-
ture to recognize, defend and act upon the great
mora lprinciple that true marriage never is and
never can be disrupted by law 1t will bea glorious
day indeed when the great commonwealth of Mis-
souri, follows the illustrious example of South Car
DINA in this particular regard.
"In those few serious causes that may require
the separation of the married, whether temporary
only or otherwise the law ought to provide for
judicial separation, or separation from bed and
board to protect the children; to enforce mante-
nance and other personal and property rights and
duties. and neither necessity a sound public
policy requires more.