The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-05
Father Hussey Gives
Sermon on Delinquency
Asks Question Whether Present Conditions Are Due
to Juvenile or Parental Delinquency

then the filthy stories that burned
their innocent ears? Who robbed
man Of his dignity and sex Of
It's sacredness? Who locked God
in the heavens and who relegated
Satan and hell to the realms Of
superstition? Teen age boys and
girls? No, but middle aged men
and women who defile the air Of
office, shop and store with vile
stories, married men and women
who spend their nights in drum
ken debauchery and their days
In ceaseless, blasphemous quarrel
ing, spineless parents who offer
as an excuse, II can't do any
thing with them"
My dear friends, they, the adults
and parents are the guilty ones,
not the children. The parents
should be put on trial, not the
teen aged, inexperienced youths.
They should be forced to tell
what they were doing, where they
spent their time, while their boys
and girls were curiously attending
salacious movies, reading regard.
ing books and wandering the
streets at all hours Of the night.
Patriotism, war work Is no excuse;
for any parent, any guardian who
allows his or her children to run
wild at any time in war or in
peace Is doing distinct desServ.
vice to his country. Nor can
these delinquent parents pass the
buck to the church or school or
social agency. For no priest, no
nun, no teacher or social work.
er can take the place Of a parents.
We can all assist but we cannot
replace a father or a mother. We
can tetach your children the Com
mandments Of God and the laws Of
the land; we can point out to
them their duties and obligations
to church and country but un-
less these teachings are given SUBJ
stance, unless these teachings are
backed up by the firm hands Of
a faithful father and the gentle
urging Of O loving mother, the rest
Of us, priests, nuns, teachers and
social workers might just q well
be silent. The home Is the pri-
mary and the basic training
ground Of every child. God or
dained 1t so and no other agency
on earth can serve as an ade-
quate substitute for 1t. Nurseries,
orphan asylumS, youth organiza-
lions and clubs all can offer many
advantages and conveniences to q
child and to young person but
none Of them can take the place
Of q good father and mother.
therefore, II you are to protect
don't begin by looking AROUND for
your children from vice and crime,
don't begin by looking around
for youth organizations or clubs
Begin by making your homes at
tractive places in which to live, to
study and to play. Teach the chill
dren how to stay home by stay
ing home yourselves. Teach them
to come early by coming in early
yourselves. BY all means let
them 60 out to have some fun,
but know where they are going and
with whom they are going. If
there is any doubt in your mind
about the nature Of their places
Of amusements, investigate these
places for yourselves. If there
Is any doubt in your mind about
the character Of their companions,
invite their companions into your
homes and study them at close
range. Interest yourselves in your
children, in their aspirations and
in their difficulties and they will
return that interest with final re-
Spect, obedience and love. If you
don't believe me. ask any priest or
nun or teacher who talks with
them, plays with them and takes
the time to listen to them and to
their troubles. Wen do our part;
will you parents do yours? To-
gether we can overcome this grow
ing menace Of delinquency among
our young. without each others
help we shall both fail miserably.