The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-01
continued from page -.
THE PROBLEM or DIVORCE.

lllL / IIUUILM Ut UIvunUE
OF this century, we will have annually
in the United States 275 divorces per
100000 population, or one divorce for
every five marriages. In 1887 there
was one divorce for every seventeen
marriages; in 1906, one for every
twelve marriages, and at the same rate
we will have in 1916 the appalling fig
ure of one divorce for every five mar
riages.
Our closest competitors in Europe
are Switzerland, with Al divorces an
nually per 100000 population; Hun
gary, with &c., and France, with 80,
according to the statistics for 1910 and
1911, while Japan has l22 divorces to
our sc.
To make most striking comparison,
during 1901 the total number of di-
vorces granted in the United States
was more than twice as great as in all
the rest. of Christendom combined;
yes, actually more than two times as
many divorces among 100000 Amer
leans that year as among the 100000
900 souls of Europe and other Chris
tian countries.
England stands in bold contrast
with this country. In 1911 she grant
ed total of only 655 divorces or
1h per 100000, while in 1906 the
United States allowed 72,062 divorces,
or SO per 100000 During the twenty
years ending with 1906 Ireland had
only 10 divorces, or an average less
than one absolute divorce per year for
the entire population of 4,500,000
If the United States were to write
in the Constitution an amendment pro-
hibiting absolute divorce, it would not
be taking such a radical step as might
at first be thought, but would be fol
lowing beaten path.
The State of South Carolinaz-all
honor to her-forbids divorce. It, is
absolutely prohibited in Italy, Spain,
and to two-thirds of the population of
Austria-Hungary, while the Latin
American countries of Mexico, Argen-
tine Republic, Brazil, Peru, Chilli, and
others have similar laws
A legal separation, however, with
out the right to remarry, is recog-
nized in all of these jurisdictions
In Canada the important provinces
of Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland,
and the northwest territories have no
divorce laws, though divorce may be
obtained in exceptional cases by spe-
cial act Of the Canadian Parliament.
From 1867 to 1909 period of AZ
years-these provinces had only 40
absolute divorces. An average of
1885 divorces per year in a popula-
ton of 5,667,531.
1t cannot be gainsaid that divorce
destroys the home, and the home is
the base and foundation of the State;
hence we must stop divorce or ruin
the State, which cannot continue to
exist if it's base is allowed to crumble
and fall.
The Downfall of Roman Power.
Let us turn to the history of Rome,
the greatest Republic and Empire of
the ancient world, examine her Gus
toms, take warnings from her exam
pie, and try to profit by her expert
ence.
Senator Ransdell here entered into
careful review of the history Of an
cient Rome showing that up to the
latter days of the Republic the form
of marriage was essentially religious
one.
But gradually the wealth of the
world was poured into the lap of
Rome; philosophical scepticism and
Oriental superstitions undermined the
morals of the people. Luxury and SEN
suality went hand in hand, and the
Romans, enervated by life of ease,
became victims of the most depraved
vices. Conjugal fidelity became the
scott of the poet; marriage vows the
target for the shafts of the satirist,
and Womanly virtue the laughing stock
of the servile courtier. Finally mar
riage lost it's religious character and
became civil contract.
Thus the final disintergation and
destruction of. the Western Empire
was caused, not by foreign army,
but by it's own. For Rome had no
Romans left to fight her battles. His
tory relates this in no uncertain
words. And this was the logical and
inevitable result of divorce coupled
with luxury.
Let us take this lesson to heart and
apply it to our own country and our
own times.
Simultaneous with the change in the
sacramento character of the Roman
marriage came the belief that the mar
riage tie could be broken; and once
this idea was prevalent, frequent di-
vOrce became only matter of time.
AS soon as the zeal of religion was re-
moved from marriage, it became a
mere transient
The same thing is true of modern
times. AsNlong as the Catholic view
of marriage was accepted through
out the Christian countries, and it's
sacramento character acknowledged,
divorce was unknown.
But when the specious doctrine that
marriage was a civil contract, of civil
status i'm which the church has no con-
Germ was promulgated by the early re-