The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-29
Cardinal Says Social System
 Is Shaken to Bottom
MARRIAGE SANCTITY LOST
False and Loose Interpretation Is Put Upon the Gospel, Says the Cardinal, and the Fault Is With the
 People In General.

Baltimore, November 2s.-( Special. )- Shocking, shocking appalling" and striking at the very roots of our social system" were the terms applied today by Cardinal Gibbons, the most eminent member of the Catholic church in America, in discussing the divorce facts as set forth in the figures that have just been given out by the cen sus bureau. These figures show a startling growth in the divorce evil in the United States disclosing that one marriage in 12 ends in divorce and that divorces are two and one-half times a common as 40 years ago. Cardinal Gibbons, who is supremely interested in the divorce evil and who has for years preached and written against it, has studied the statistics the govern ment has just given out and is deeply impressed by them. He believes the divorce evil can be checked only by a deeper regard for the teachings of the church and that society should shun those who are divorced instead of re- ceiving the divorced woman or man as it new does, as if nothing had happened.
 Shocking Statistics.
 "The statistics given out by the cen. sus bureau" said Cardinal Gibbons "are simply shocking. The revelations are nothing less than appalling. Th' extent of the divorce evil is so grea as to strike at the very foundations oi cur social system. l have been read ing and speaking constantly on thi subject in an effort to check the growtl of divorce in this country.
 "The government figures show tha divorces are multiplying about threC times as fast as the population. They disclose that one marriage in 12 ends in divorce. The figures are the more striking when considered by the side of the figures of Canada for instance, where the number of divorces is rela- : lively small.
 Divorce is becoming so prevalent that marriage is getting to be little better than a system of free love.
 People are too much bent on pleas ure. Men and women enter the mar riage state without regard to the sacred nature of the bond they are un- dertaking. They look too much upon life with regard only to what pleasure they can get out of it and with too lit tie regard for that solemn word duty
 Whose Fault Is It?
 'Where does the fault lie? Is it in our system of education?'
 No. It is the result of false, loose Interpretation of the gospel Every one of the gospels is opposed to divorce If divorce is to be checked there must be stricter regard for the truths of the Christian religion as they are taught by the Catholic church. If we profess to be Christians let us be Christians.
 Another reason why divorce is on the increase is found in the attitude of so- ciety toward persons who are divorced. In former times a woman who was divorced was summed. She was not received or recognized in good society and was drowned upon. Now, this is not the case. If divorce is to be checked let the di- voreed person he summed"
 ''fo what extent Is the law respon- sible?"
 oh, the laws on the subject of divorce are responsible to some extent. They should be made more severe As is well known they differ in different states and e for instance. divorce can be obtained after brief residence. A man forms an attachment for a woman. or woman for man, and, regardless of any exist ing marriage bonds, they determine to marry Under the laws they find this easily possible
 Decrease In Marriage Rate.
 Cardinal Gibbons attention was called 10 the fact that the government statistics showed that the marriage rate increased in good times and lowered in bad times He was asked whether the industrial con- ditions of the country, the high cost of living and the like had not a direct rela- ton to the prevalence of divorce.
 That" replied the Cardinal, lis too big a subject to be discussed in a brief time. noticed what the census statistics showed as to the decrease of the marriage rate in times of depression It is natural that this should be the case and that the people should the more readily contract marriages when times are prosperous
 Without going into the question of the relation of economic conditions to divorce l may say that I hope we are on the verge of greater prosperity and better times''