The Catholic bulletin., 1915-05-15
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
THE CATHOLIC PROHIBITION
MOVEMENT.

TgE
There can be no doubt that the
temperance movement today, even
among Catholics, is away from the old
method of moral suasion and toward
prohibition, writes Rev. U. F. Miller,
&c. PIP. s., in "The Fortnightly Re-
view" The Catholic Total Abstinence
Union, which was heartily approved
by the American hierarchy at the
Third Plenary Council of Baltimore,
is stationary if not on the decline.
The new movement differs in more
than one respect from the one,
started seyenty-five years ago, which
eliminated in the G.. T. A. II. in 1872.
The old movement preached personal
total abstinence and declined political
activity. The new movement is rather
Indifferent regarding the personaE
habits of its followers. Whilst it well
comes the total abstainer, it cares
little for him if he will not join in
political agitation; on the other hand,
one who is himself addicted to the
use of strong drink is given the glad
hand if he votes and agitates for pro-
hibition. The Total Abstinence cham
piOns of yesteryear preached absti-
nence as necessary for those who
found strong drink an occasion of sin,
and as a praiseworthy act of charity
and modification for those who were
These were eminently religious mo-
tives, indulgenced by the Church.
Prohibition is advocated on purely
secular grounds, such as the hygienic
or economic betterment of the in
dividual or the progress of the race.
In the T. A. movement of the early
forties and the seventies of the last
century, bishops and priests were the
leaders. In the prohibition movement
of. today the laity leads, though
priests are now and then engaged to
speak for the cause.
This last point alone would suffice
to make the movement dangerous.
These lay leaders, no doubt, have the
best of intentions, but they uncon-
sciously employ the phraseology of
the children of this world G e., the
language of the broad humanitarian
ism fostered by Freemasonry). Not
being schooled in theology, they
often lack soundness in the ethical
principles involved; they forget in the
heat of battle that total abstinence,
though highly commendable, is not of
precept; they are induced by love of
success to stretch the teachings of
sciences and being more learned than
the clergymen in the wisdom of the
world G. e., the hygienic, economic,
and political aspects of the alcohol
problem), they are inclined to ,despise
their pastors and refuse to be guided
by them, claiming that the temperance
cause is social and economic rather
than ethical and religious.
/ do not claim to know all the
causes that have wrought this remark
able change. Perhaps. those that /
know are not even the principal ones.
But one thing is certain. The clergy
have failed to carry out the DEGREES
.of the,Third~ PlenaEy4 Council in regard
to the drink question. They have
done next to nothing to crystallize
the ever increasing Catholic temper
ance sentiment and to gather it's
forces into Catholic societies as rec
commended by the Council. Neither
have they taken effective means to
get the many thousands of Catholics
engaged in the liquor trade out of
that dangerous business, as the Coun-
Ill Il I,s, l.
been done to stem the ever rising
tide of intemperance. Many Catholic
total abstinence societies have dis
banded, owing to the apathy of pas
tors. Instead, the young men have
joined clubs and societies that freely
serve liquor to their members. In
twenty years, outside of temperance
I have but twice heard
to temperance from the
Catholic pulpit. But | have heard
many pleas, from the same sacred
place, for personal liberty" and
against temperance cranks.' The
Catholic saloon-keeper is still scan
dal in many parish. Though often
but a nominal Catholic, he is allowed
to advertise i'm the parish monthly and
to keep open, in defiance of the law,
up to the second bell for high mass
or vespers ON Sundays.
Thus the leadership in the temper
ance cause has slipped away from the
clergy, and Catholic workers for So
cial reform are fIocking to the Prohibi-
tion Party and the Anti-Saloon
League, which extend to them a
hearty welcome and in the pale of
which they are soon tainted by false
and uncatholic notions and prejudices.
Perhaps it is too late to remedy this
evil. Nevertheless we ought to make
All earnest attempt to save what we
may.