The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-05

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of the stigma of the full blame for
the prevalent wave Of juvenile delin-
quency, the Rev. Philip j. Hussey
curate Of the Immaculate Concep-
ton Church, spoke at all Masses
last Sunday, pointing out that the
home, and close family life are the
nucleus for the growth Of the solu-
ton to this widespread problem.
Father Hussey's text was Juvenile
Delinquency or Parental Delin-
quency." His treatment Of the issue
which Is causing nationwide con-
Germ to church dignitaries, school
officials, welfare workers, court au-
tohrities, and millions Of conscien-
tious parents alarmed over general
conditions excited considerable IA
vorable comment and reaction.
The sermon was as follows:
My dear friends, In these days
1t Is almost impossible to pick UP
q newspaper or q magazine which
does not carry an article about
Juvenile delinquency. Amazing
statictic about the sins Of young
people leap out Of the pages Of
these articles to startle our eyes
and sadden our souls. Criminolog-
lists and social workers suggest all
kinds Of remedies for this plague
Of teen-age vice and crime.
Churches, schools, social agencies
and youth organizations, all are
invited and urged to join in q
crusade to rescue our children
from their sinful, wicked ways.
Without O doubt the writers of
these articles are sincere in their
lamentations and have faith In
their programs Of reform. How
ever, from what I have seen OF
young people I can neither join
IN their lamentations, nor accept
their programs OF reformation.
Now, such statement may APP
pear both rash and inopportune
but let me try to prove otherwise.
That there has been an increase
In teen-age vice and crime during
the past three or four years, is
o fact. No responsible persons will
deny that. We have all read
about the murders, the robbieries
and the sex offenses committed
by II and IS year old boys and
girls. Scarcely day passes with
out another addition to this al
ready long List Of youthful sins.
In the face Of such testimony 1t
would seem that I must heWail
the plight Of our young people.
Yet. cannot. Why? Because I
believe that although the List of
juvenile delinquents Is long and
their offenses are increasing in
frequency, the list is not so lamen-
table when we consider what these
young people have to face.
Look the situation over com.
pletely. Consider 1t from every
angle and you viii find that the
social problem confronting most
communities in this nation has
been misnamed and misunder-
stood; for, what Is popularity called
juvenile delinquency is In reality
adult or parental delinquency.
Anyone who fails to classify it as
such Is either merely scratching
the surface Of the difficulty or
lacks the courage to put his finger
on the source Of the infection.
Approaching the problem in this
manner, perhaps you can under
stand why say that the young
people Of our land deserve credit
for being as good as they are and
for making as fine q showing as
they do. Theirs Is a hagardous
existence for which they are not
responsible. They are young. Their
judgements are hurried and i'm
mature. Their convictions are
changeable and lack stability.
They need training. guidance and
protection. They need firm and
0od-fearing parents. They need
wise and patient teachers. Lack
ing these they will drink; they
viii steal: they will commit rape
and murder.
tention? The case histories Of
most Of our young criminals. Nor
do you need to investigate the
files Of any prison or social agency
TO obtain this proof. You can
find It in most Of the newspaper
accounts Of youths unlawful es-
carades. Yet. when any OF these
teen age youngsters come to trial
for their offenses, they alone are
hlackened with the guilt Of their
sins. They alone must suffer the
punishment Of their misdeeds. Yes.
Il Is true that they have passed
the age Of reason. Il Is true that
they are not infants. Neverthe-
less, theirs Is not the total blame
nor is theirs oil the shame. We
adults, you parents and guardl-
ans In particular, nuaN share their
guilt, For. who taught them how
% dTlnk1 Who brought hnme the
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