The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-12-13
CATHOLIC THEATRE MOVE
MENT.


forts have been made to organize
and foster national movement
among Catholics for the purpose
of bringing about better condi-
tions in the theatrical world. The
primary purpose Of this movement
is to unity and coordinate Catho-
Elic sentiment and action along
positive lines by urging Catholics
to patronize only such plays as do
not offend against Christian NOR
ality.
j This Catholic theatre movement
| had its inception in New York
and is under the patronage of His
Eminence Cardinal Farley. It's
active workers are engaged in
laying the foundation for ma
tion-wide cooperation among
catholics by calling their attention
to the unwholesome moral condi-
lions of which the suggestive and
unclean play is an evidence and
proposing the remedies by which
the social organism can cleanse
itself from this deflement.
1t is confidently expected that,
as result of this propaganda,
public opinion will be made so
strong and so determined in favor
of purer and more elevating plays
that it will demand Of the state
and nation the regulation Of the
stage in accordance with Chris
tian ideals of morality and right
living. In this way it is hoped to
unite people Of all classes, creeds,
and conditions in demanding the
productions of plays that do not
offend against decency; and their
approval and support Of any play
will be a guarantee that it does
not cater to the baser passions or
set at naught the proprieties.
It will not be an easy matter to
put into effective operation the
concerted action among Catholics
which this movement postulates.
To make it a success would re-
quire the active cooperation of
the ecclesiastical authorities
throughout the country, Of the
pastors of souls in all the larger
cities, at least, and Of the leading
Catholic societies, as well as the
most influential Catholic men in
the business, professional and So
cial world. Reduced to it's logical
unit, a Catholic theatre movement
OF this scope demands the active
interest of every Catholic family
in the country. We doubt that
those who are behind the move
ment are sanguine- enough to hope
for such widespread co-opera-
ton in their project.
But, apart from the practicable
ity Of such movement, it can
scarcely be doubted that con-
siderable amount Of good will re-
suit from the efforts made to
awaken the public at large to
a realization of it's duty in de-
handing that any play which out
RACES the canons Of Christian de-
cency be driven from the stage.
The movement will also have the
effect of calling the attention Of
the Catholic people to the dangers
that Turk in modern plays and
thus put them on guard against
their insidiously immoral appeals.
That the American stage needs
publication there can be no doubt.
But how can the task be accom-
Iplished most successfully?
There are enough laws and
municipal regulations on the
statute books to prevent the pro-
duction Of lascivious and sugges-
tive plays Of all kinds and stop
any theatrical exhibition which
does not measure up to the re-
CURED standard Of morality. But
are these laws enforced as fully
and impartially as they should be !?
There is scarcely a city in the
country where the authorities do
not wink at infractions of the
laws regulating theatres of all
kinds. Too often venal politicians
curry favor with theatrical promo
tiers and the patrons Of a certain
class of plays by their passivity
in this regard. What is needed in
every community is a strong pub
lie sentiment that will demand the
enforcement Of the laws safe
guarding public morality on the
stage and elsewhere. lie the peo-
pie are in earnest in their desire
to bring about better municipal
conditions the authorities will be
forced to take cognizance Of this
public demand and do their duty
fearlessly. lie it be true, as thea
trical promoters assert, that the
stage caters to the wishes Of it's
patrons, then the most effective
way to elevate the character of
theatrical productions is to edu-
cate the people to demand clean
plays. This will take time; but in
the long run it will prove effective.