The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-06-26

DISREGARD IS GROWING
Marriage is no Longer a Sac
red Thing.
This Noted Catholic Divine Writes
an Excellent Article for the July
Delineator.

The reckless facility with which
divorce is procured in this country
is an evil scarcely less deplorable
than Mo1monism-indeed it is in
some respects more dangerous than
the latter, for divorces has the
sanction Of the civil law, which
Mormonism consists in a simultane-
of divorce virtual toleration of
MOrmOnism in a modified for
Moronism consists in simultane-
ous polygamy, while the law of di-
vCGce practically leads TO successive
polygamy.
Each state has on statute books
a list Of causes-or, rather, pre-
which are recognized as suf-
ficient grounds for divorce. There
are in all % or more causes, most
of them Of a trifling character, and
in some states, as in Illinois and
Maine, the power OF granting a
divorce is left to the discretion of
the Judge.
1t is plainly manifest that the
cancer Of divorce is rapidly spread
ing over the community and poison
ing the fountains of the nation.
Unless the evil is checked by some
7peedy and heroic remedy, the exis-
tenee of family life is imperiled.
How can we call ourselves a
Christian people if we violate a
fundamental law Of Christianity ?
And if the sanctity and indissolu-
hility Of marriage does not consti-
'nte q cardinal principle of the
'hristian religion, am al loss
20 know what does.
Picture to yourself the fearfu'
wrecks caused by this rock Of sean.
'al, aud the number Of families thai
re east adrift on the ocean of life
Great stress is Justly laid b
nolaists on the Observance of Il
Sunday. But what a mockery
he external repose of the Chris
ian Sabbath 10 homes from which
omestic peace is banished, where
he mothers heart is broken and
he fathers spirit crushed, and
where the children cannot cling tc
me Of their parents without ex-
'iting the jealousy or hatred of the
ther. And these, melancholy scenes
are followed by the final act of the
lrama when the family ties are
dissolved, and hearts that had
vowed eternal love and union are
separated 20 meet no more.
The facility with which marriage
is annulled is most injurious to the
morals of individuals, of the family
and of society.
IT leads TO ill-assoued and hasty
marriages, because persons are less
circumspect in making compact
which may afterward be dissolved
almost at will.
II stimulates discontented and
nnprincipled husband or wife to
lawlessness, qiaiTels and even adul-
terry well knowing that the very
crime will afford pretext and
legal grounds for separation.
II engenders between husband
and wife fierce litigation about the
custody Of their offspring.
II dcprives the children Of the
protecting arm of a father or the
gentle care Of mother, and too
frequently consign $ them to the
cold charity of the wcrld; for the
married couple who are wanting in
conjugal love for one another ara
too often destitute also Of parental
affection. In q word it brings into
the household a blight and desola-
ton which neither wealth nor lux
nry can repair.
This social plague calls for a
radical cure, and the remedy can
be found only in the abolition OF
our mischievous legislation regard,
ing divorce and in an honest appli-
cation of the teachings of the Cos
pei.
If persons contemplating mar,
riage were persuaded that once
united they We're legally debameC
from entering into second wedlocR
they would be mere choice of .
life partner, and would be more
patient afterward IN bearing thC
yoke and in toleratlng each Others
infirmities. Cardinal Gibbons il
July Delineator.