The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-24
PASTORAL LETTER
Archbishops and Bishops Point Out the
Wars First Lesson


The pastoral letter of the archblsh.
ops and bishops of the United States
to the clergy and laity of the charge
was read in the Catholic churches Of
We mont.
After dealing with ''The Progress of
Religion" Catholic Education" me
groes and Indians" Catholic Soci-
ieties.' Catholic War Activities"
Americas Pledge to the World" Our
Present S tuaion," Need OF a solid
Foundation, the letter says in regard
to "The Wars First Lesson"
The first and most essential lesson
in true education Is that which the war
has taught us. Flo IA long time the at
tempt was made to regulate human af-
fa.-s without any reference to God. 1t
was thought that the advance of civili-
cation, the progress of science and the
growth of commerce had made the
peace OF the world secure Religion
was excluded, in great measure, from
publ life, and entirely from the coun-
Gil of nations. 1t was vast expert
ment, conducted with all the resources
of power and skill. And now we see its
/ resu is.
! I'VE cannot afford to repeat the ex-
pertinent. II we are to blu Id anew, we
must bu Id on sure foundation, not
on quicksand. The stone which the
builders of the modern world rejected,
must become again the head Of the
/ corner. In the teaching and example
of Jesus Chr st, mankind must earn
the way of salvation. There is no other
There are many indeed who admire
4 the Oh list an ideal and yet claim that
4 ChriJt anity should be modif ed to suit
! the demands OF our age. But as these
/ demands are countless, and as some
of them are openly at variance with
the spirit OF Chr st, nothing VII be
gained by yielding to them. Too much,
in fact has already been lost in these
va attempts to satisfy the world
with a luted Christian ty. In the
final issue not only particular doc
tr nes have been set aside. but the CEN
tral truth, namely that Christ is the
! Inearnate God. has been questioned o.
| denied Those who regard Him simply
as the perfect man, feel justified in
/ interpret ng His doctrines according to
their particular liking. They may con-
/ tinue to speak OF Their version as
Chr sianity; and they may find it In
adequate in the present conditions OF
the world But this is no war ant ior
say ng that Christianity has ceased to
be a power for t.uth and righteous
ness"
In dealing with MARI age and divorce
the letter says:
'As life and its relations have their
origin IN the home. whatever, streng-
thens the family tie viii rebound to
the good of society. On the cont airy
all those influences and tendencies
which weaken the bond establ shed by
marriage, are pernic Gus. They des-
troy the home and corrupt our social
relations at the source.
1.-THE Catholic church does not and
will not sanction divorce in the alb
solute sense which permits either Of
the separated parties to emarry dur
ing the life time of the other The
ease and frequency with which divorce
of tn kind is granted, make it a ma
tlonal scandal The bond, which
ought TO be most sacred, is regarded
by too many a. trivial circumstance,
as something OF less Importance than
an ordinary business agreement SO
far as this idea prevails, II removes
the one safeguard OF decency and pur-
.ty in the sex relation. In permanent
union, that relation possesses human
character; n a temporary arrange
ment it falls to the level of animal
Impulse.
The degrad tion of marriage leads
to a more intense selfishness by max
ing individual pleasu or whim the
one decisive factor 1t consequently
tends to deaden the spirit of charity
just where, naturally, love should be
strongest.
The sense of justice also will be dul
led. If the obligations assumed
through marriage can be so lightly
cancelled, it is hard to see what value