The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-03-11
HOLY FATHER TO
SOCIETY WOMEN
Urges Them to Protect Christian
Homes Against Divorce Evil.

The Daughters of the Faith, an or
ganization of Catholic society women
of New York, who are banded together
to combat certain demOralizing social
tendencies of the day, have received a
strong letter of appropriation from the
holy father, who is keenly alive to the
dangers of divorce, extravaganza, the
love of pleasure and other besetting
sins of society.
At the time of their organization,
about year ago. the Daughters of the
Faith were considerably criticized for
their determination to ostracize di-
vorcees. They have not receded from
this position, however, though they
deprecate the exaggerated reports of
their aims and purposes which ap
peared in the daily press. The Daugh-
tiers recognized divorce as the great
social evil of the day and believe that
the duty of Catholics is clear in re-
gard to it.
THE Catholic Divorce who remar-
ries' they announce, will be socially
ignored, as also divorces OF other dee
nominations whose life is an open
scandal
The ordinary Divorce will be treat
ed with consideration and charity. In
view of the many conflicting circum-
stances of modern life, but the law of
God will be upheld and that charity
will be commended that seeks the good
of the soul rather than the body by
a prudent recognition of moral rights.
It's treatment of other social problems
may be summed up in the maxim.
Moderation in what is allowable and
union in the avoidance of positive
evil
This translation of the papal brief
of appreciation has just been made
public:
'To our beloved Daughters in Christ,
Eliza O'Brien. Lummis, Moderator of
the S. F'iliae Fidei:
Plus F. p X
ITO our beloved daughter in Christ,
health and apostolic blessing. 1t is
with a feeling of sweet consolation
that we have learned that you have
made known to us concerning the So
ciety which you have founded, it's Or
ganization and it's excellent results.
Indeed, we cannot but rejoice greatly
when we see most worthy ladies, in
particular those whose position, wealth
or names gives them a most powerful
influence in society, uniting for the
purpose of reviving, particularly
those of their own rank, the
perfection of Christian morality, and
by striving according to resources at
their command against naturalism,
which is the ever increasing evil of
the presen day. and which, breathing
only the love of pleasure and sensual |
ity, weakens and enervates the minds |
of men, and even in the conscience of |
Catholics themselves, effaces the sense
of the most sacred Oh1ipa tiOns
Among these duties we mention |
that of protecting Chris |
tan marriage against the disgraceful !
stain of divorce of providing for prop t
er education within the domestic fails |
as well as in the schools, of checking |
those pests of human society, namely, !
the shameless license of spectacular
representations and immoral books.
If idle and wanton conversation and
and the shameful extrava-
yance of dress Therefore, beloved
laughter in Christ, the work you have
not without divine inspi-
ration and guidance, and which you
lave prosecuted with the appreciation
If the head of your diocese-that
work we wish you to continue hence
orth with greater ardor, while rely
ng on the support of our authority.
AT the same time we trust that
many more. stirred up by your exam
lie and that of your associates, may
re led to join your organizatio and
hat your plous association may. under
our leadership, he diffused in other
lioceses. also. and that it may induce
ven Catholic men to bind themselves
" similar compact and to tend to a
imilar purpose. In the meantime, as
n augury and assurance OF divine
BLESSING and a token of our paternal
we very lovingly impart
0 you, beloved daughter in Christ
nd to your whole society, and to all
hose who in any way forward the
anne, our apostolic benediction.
"Givep from st. Peters Nov. %, 1904,
east of st. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr, :
4 the second year of our pontifcate. :
Plus F. z. X