The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-09
THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL.

There are three dangers which
threaten the Christian home at this
present moment says the Bishop of
Iced, England, in pastoral addressed
to his flock, three dangers which
every Catholic must strenuously resist.
The first is divorce. To the ever
lasting disgrace of our country, and to
the ruin of many homes, an Act of
Parliament was passed many years
back legalizing divorce. In the pres
ent year movement has been set
on foot to cheaper divorce, SO as to put
it within the easy reach of the work
ing classes. BY this measure, if car
ried out, the f1oodgates of the most ter
rible evil will be thrown wide open,
and all the miseries which ensue from
the destruction of the stability of
welded life will pour themselves over
the land and overwhelm it. Catholics,
of course, know that divorce, as it is
understood in this country, can never
be; for the Church, in the name of
her Divine Spouse, Jesus Christ, con-
dennis it utterly. 1t is, however
hONOO0e&Ay " OAASAI SOu w 0OS JSAA
face against the very mention of
this accursed evil, that you may,
when the question is discussed in
your presence, let your neighbors
know how wide apart from, and how
high above, all sects and religious
bodies which approve or tolerate d.
vorce, stands the Holy Catholic Church
NTH oil hov 60 ohiIdroo
The second danger which we warn
you against is equally destructive of
the Christian family, and equally
detestable in the sight of God as
divorce. Every instructed adult Catho-
lie knows, that the chief end for which
marriage was instituted is to bring
children into the world, who, being
born again in the Sacrament of Bap-
tism, may fill up the number of Gods
elect God is the author of marriage.
1t is He who blesses it and makes
it fruitful. Hence in all ages amongst
those who believe in God, the gift of
children has always been looked upon
indeed, what nobler duty can fall to
man than to cooperate with the
Almighty Creator in bringing into exis-
tence immortal beings, made to His
image, whom He destines to live and
reign with Him eternally. And, on the
other hand, to refuse to cooperate
with God in the spread of the human
family, to deliberately defeat Gods de-
sign by positively sinful acts-what
else is this but to usurp Gods place?
To take the law into your own hands
and commit one of the greatest and
most detestable crimes the wickedness
of men can devise? Against this awful
crime we warn you. Be not led astray
by the false arguments of unbelieving
and wicked men. Let husband and
wife remember that in entering the
married state they bound themselves
to fulfill the duties of that state; and
one chief duty is to thank God should
He bless them with children, and
never by sinful stratagem to stay His
bountiful hand, knowing what the
Psalmist says, that the Inheritance
Of the Lord are children, and the fruit
of the womb a reward" psalm
cxxvi, 81.
Let not parents be afraid of the
trouble or the expense which the
bringing up of large family imposes
on them, for God, who entrusts those
children to their care, will help them
to discharge their duties. His grace
will sweeten the labor, and His pro-
violence will bless the store. AS He
fed thousands with few loaves of
bread, He can surely find food for the
children He gives you. Life is not
bestowed on us to spend in pleasure
and in self-indulgence. We are to toll
and labor. Rest will come in the end.
It is Gods will that all of US should
employ diligently the short years of
our earthly career; and those who
take this right view of life and act up
to it, enjoy the best of this world,
and will inherit the eternal rest of
you, then, to whom we address our
warning, be on your guard not to
yield to the evil influence of the times.
Shrink with unspeakable loathing
from that sin which, thousands of
years ago, Almighty God declared to
be "a detestable thing in Israel" (Gen.
xxx, 10), and, which to-day is so
widespread an evil in the new Israel.
Thanks be to God, we have reason to
believe that this frightful evil does
not exist widely among our faithful
people; but to some extent we fear
it does exist, and therefore we speak
now, to put you on your guard against
a scourage which has invaded our
country, and is destroying every home
it enters, and will, If it prevails, bring
ruin and desolation on the land.
The third evil which spoils the
Christian home, is the lack of per-
severing affection between husband
and wife. Many enter the holy state
of matrimony expecting to find it a