The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-18
CONTINUED from page ~
SOCIALISM AND THE FAMILY

When objection is made to the doc
trine of the economic freedom of the
sexes on the ground that the family
| is the unit of the state then their cue
| is to argue that the state is
| mere tool of the capitalist class, that
it will Idle out" when private property
in capital is abolished. And that as
the present form of the family itself
is founded upon private property, so a
higher form of the family will be sure
to come into existence with Socialism
triumphant.
When they are passed home, that
higher form of the family proves to be
no family at ALL It is the "free fam
| i1y;" it lasts just as long as sex fond
ness lasts and no longer; and it parts
scientifically without remorse of con-
science when the next passion comes
into the perverse heart of those who
accept motherhood as trade and the
COLLECTIVELY as the common father of
children. This is the freedom of that
lewd society which is to usher in a
| higher FORM than that of the Chris
| tan family-of one man and one wom-
an until death. Once evolution shall
have proceeded beyond the stage of
production for profit, and turned wom-
en- into all the industries upon an
equality with men, the relations then
taken up by men and women shall
form a family higher" than that
which God ordained and which is ele-
waited above natural union of rational
beings in lie sacrament of matrimony.
If the Socialist ideal is attacked on
the ground of morality Marx instruct
ed his followers to turn it off with a
| counter attack, upon the social evils
extant by charging that mysterious
thing the present system" with being
the primary cause of existing social
evils, while exemptfng the individual
from all blame. 1t is capitalism, the
present order, the private ownership
of capital that is the cause of greed,
envy and the lust of the f1esh-a most
convenient doctrine for the unrepent-
ant sinner. So, although this tactic
puts the upholder of Christian civil
/ j.
very superficial way, it serves the
cause. For while the novice is con-
fused the tactician gains time to turn
the talk to economics. So the very
issue of family integrity which So
cialists say has no better foundation
than private property is, for the nonce,
covered over by that self same econ
omic theory.
All! yes, Socialism would preserve,
it would perfect the monegamic fam
lily. As proof of it's intention, it sets
forth at full length, it's doctrine in
The Origin of The Family in Bebels
woman" and in all it's standard au-
thorities. It's ideal freedom of the sexes
is founded in that disorder which is
the scourge of civilization today. That
which is exceptional with our society
would, under a Socialist regime, be-
come general. But with this differ
ence which Engels himself has pointed
out: Society would be saved the ne
cessity of wading through the mire of
the divorce courts" Do you say that
such doctrine would show practical
results?
It does. There never was time
when free family was at disad-
vantage within the Socialist move
ment. Even more may be said, for
ever since the daughter Of Marx tour
ed this country as the actual exponent
of the free wife," distinction has been
shown to those men and women who
have defied capitalist morality as
marital integrity is called. The or
gained movement has given them the
highest places in the gift of the party,
and their comrades have lavishly con-
ferred upon them the social consider
alton which official position implies.
Yet would not take leave Of this
subject without a word to remind Cath
olics of the fact that, outside the Faith,
men and women are not alone left de-
fenseless against the seductions of the
Socialist tactician, they are prey to
their own genuine desire to be Of
service to their day and generation
which is in such dire need of devoted
work. 1t is case of 10 here, and 10
there, for without the Faith how shall
one learn the voice Of the Shepherd?
Here then lies the usefulness OF this
effort, that we may see our duty just
a littl palmer as it is gloriously set
forth by our Holy Father, not alone
in warding off the attacks Of Social
ism upon our national life, but in striv-
ing to build up in this dear land con-
dition of society in which not only
social justice shall prevail, but where
Christian Democracy shall be the rul-
ing force Hail that day when the
pest of Socialism" shall be driven into
the sea, with Christian Democracy tri-
umphant.