Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-08

the dignity of Christian wedlock; Sec
ond, errors opposed to Christian we'd
lock, and third, remedies for overcom-
ing these errors. 1t is in the middle
section that the Pontiff Is most Wig
orous and emphatic.
To-day, alas he says, mot secretly
or under cover, but openly, with all
sense of shame put aside now by word,
again by writing, by theatrical produc-
tions of every kind, by romantic nc
cinemategraphics portraying in vivid
scenes, in addresses broadcast by radio
telephoning, in short, by all inventions
of modern science the Sanctity of mar
rage is trampled upon and derided
Divorce, adultery, all the basest
vices either are eXtolled or at least
depicted in such colors as to be or
infamy. Doctrines are de-
tended and are offered for
sale as productions of modern genius.
of that genius which is anxious only
for truth, and is considered to have
emancipated itself from all those old
fashioned immature opinions Of the
ancients, and to the number Of those
antiquated opinions they relegate the
traditional doctrine of the Christian
marriage"
Experimental Marriage Hit.
The encyclical condemns what 1t
terms human tampering with sacred
institution" calling companionate and
experimental marriages mere travesty,
1t stresses the high dignity OF marriage
as affecting questions of conjugal fldel-
ity and the sacramento nature of the
marriage contract and the marriage
state.
Among the blessings of marriage the
child holds first place, the pontih said.
adding that the parents duty Is not
concerned solely with begetting but
likewise with education of the child.
The Pontiff also touches upon eman-
cipation Of modern woman. The wife
should be subject to the husband, he
says, but adds that this does not deny
or take away the liberty which fully
belongs to the woman both in view of
her dignity as human person and in
view of her most noble ONCE as wife.
mother and companion; nor does 1t bid
her obey her husband; every request
when, for example such a request is
not in harmony with the right or rea-
son or with the respect due to a wife.
Subsection Of the wife to q husband,
says the Pontiff, does, however, forbid
that exaggerated license which cares
requires honorable, noble obedience"
"InviOIable Stability" Stressed
The Pope stresses 1.-The inviolable sta
bility'' of the marriage bond IN ex-
planning the Catholic doctrine Of the
sacramento character of marriage. Man
and wife, he says, are mot fetteTed, but
adorned by this noble bond"
Society's part in aiding toward proper
family development is emphasized by
the pontiff, who says that beyond the
duty of charity a selfish motive Of look
ing after its own good should counsel
its attention.
Indeed, how great a peril can arise
to public security and to welfare and
to the very life of civil society itself
when men are reduced to that condition
Of desperation that, having nothing
which they fear to lose, they are en-
boldened TO hope for chance advan-
tage from an upheaval Of state and of
established order"
The encyclical proceeds to q discus
sion Of divorce, quoting a number of
ecclesiastical authorities in their de-
velopment of "the word of the Lord:
What God had joined together let no
man put asunder.'"
Experience has taught" the pontif
says that unassailable stability in
matrimony is a fruitful source of vir-
tuous life and of habits of integrity.
Where this order Of things obtained the
happiness and well being of the Nation
is safely guarded AS the families and
individuals are, so also is the state.
For body is determined by its parts"
The encycltcal says further:
These parties, let 1t be known, not
fettered but adorned by the golden bond
af hn Nr0 40f :. cd t4TTf
assisted, should strive with all their
might TO the end that their wedlock, not
only through the power and symbolism
Of the sacrament, but also through their
spirit and manner of life may be and
may remain always the living image of
that most fruitful union of Christ with
the church, which is to be venerated as
the sacred token Of most perfect love"
Modern Teaching Criticized.
After detailing the influences Of this
modern day, which tend to degrade
and belittle the marriage sacrament,
the encyclical declares:
mot all the sponsors of these new
doctrines are carried to extremes of un-
bridled lust There are those, who,
striving as 1t were for middle course,
believe, nevertheless, that something
should be conceded in our times as re-
CARDS certain precepts of the divine and
natural law But these, likewise, more
or less Willingly, are emissaries of the
great enemy who Is forever seeking to
SOW cookie among the wheat"
After many paragraphs devoted to
the indiSSolubility of marriage, the
encyclical proceeds TO a discussion of
the more modern forms of matrimonial
union. THE evil Of this (modern)
teaching" the encyclical says, is
plainly seen from the consequences
which its advocates deduce from 1t
/ that the generative power that is
grounded in nature itself is more sacred
and has more wide range than matri-
mony, and hence may be exercised
both outside as well as In the confines
Of wedlock, even though the purpose of
, matrimony be set aside, as those who
suggest that the license of base forni-
eating woman should enjoy the same
right as the chaSte motherhood Of q
lawfully welded wife.
Armed with these principles some
men go so far as to concoct new species
of union, suited, as they say, to the
present temper of men and the times,
which various new forms of matrimony,
they presume TO label temporary, 'ex-
perimental,' and 'companionate.' These
offer all the indulgence of .matrimony
and its right without however, being
indissoluble and without offspring, un-
less later the parties alter their cohabi-
| tation into a matrimony in the full
sense of the law"
The proponents of these marriage
| forms, the Pontif says, do not seem to
suspect that these proposals partake of
nothing OF the modern culture in
which they glory so much, but are
simply hateful abomina tions which be.