The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-06-17
SACRED coNsIsIoRlAL
CONGREGATION DECREE
Concerning Certain Dances in the
United States Of North America
and in the Dominion Of Canada.

In the last century, In the United
States of North America, the custom
had its beginning of inviting Cath
Ollie families to dances which were
wont, with feastings and other amuse-
ments, to be continued throughout
many hours Of the night. For this,
the reason and cause were assigned,
that Catholics, to-wit, might become
mutually acquainted and might be the
more intimately united in bonds OF
charity, and at the same time that
funds might be procured for this or
that pious work. Those who were
wont to convene these assemblies and
preside over them, were generally the
presidents of some pious organization,
and not rarely the very Rectors and
Parish Priests Of the churches.
But the local Ordinaries, although
they did not doubt of the worthy OBJ
ject of those who promoted these
dances, nevertheless perceived the
harm and danger of the practice and
considered 1t their duty to prescribe
them; and therefore in canon 290 Of
the Third Plenary Council of Balti-
more they enacted thus: 1--WE COM
mand also that priests exercise care
that the abuse, whereby feasts with
dances (balls) are organized for the
promotion of pious works, be wholly
abolished"
But, as often happens in human af-
fairs, what was most justly and wisely
ordered in the beginning begun grad
ually to pass into oblivion and the GUS
tom of dances had begun again to pre-
vail, yea, and to spread into the neigh
boring Dominion of Canada.
Knowing these things the Most Emf
nent Fathers of the Consistorial Con-
gregation, having consulted many local
Ordinaries, and the matter having been
subjected to very careful examination,
have decided that the prescriptions
laid down by the Third Council of
Baltimore are to remain in force; and,
with the approval of Our Most Holy
Lord Pope Benedict X, they have de-
creed that all priests whomsoeyer,
whether secular or regular, and all
other clerics are utterly forbidden to
promote or favor the aforesaid dances,
even for the advantage and aid of
pious works, or for any other pious
object whatsoever, and moreover, that
all clerics are forbidden to be present
at these dances, if perchance they be
promoted by laymen.
The Sovereign Pontiff has ordered
this decree to be published and to be
religiously observed by all, all things
whatsoever to the contrary by no
means withstanding.
Given at Rome, from the Offices of
the Sacred Consistorial Congregation,
March 81, 1916.
.4-G. Card. DE LAr, Ep. Sabinen.,
LIS. Secretarius.
>-THOS. BOGGIANI, Arch. Edessen.
Assessor.
His Eminence, Cardinal Farley, has
already taken steps to put the above
decree of the Sacred Congregation of
the Consistory in force in the New
York archdiocese, having addressed
the following letter to all the pastors:
Reverend and Dear Father:
His Eminence the Cardinal Arch
bishop directs me to notify you that
pursuant to a decree Of the Sacred
Congregation of the Consistory, dated
March 81, he hereby forbids, under
severe penalty, all dances at church
entertainments, whether arranged for
already or planned for the future.
Later, His Eminence will send a
circular on the subject to the reverend
pastors. Very sincerely,
THE CHANCELLOR.