The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-10-30
JOSEPH BRETC-
This Really
Makes Me Blush

| am happily amazed to learn that | am not with
out defenders. A few weeks ago, | quoted a husband
who denounced me and cancelled his subscription
because | said that wives should not work outside
the home unless it is truly necessary. somewhat rue
fully, | remarked that the young man had mlsunder-
stood me. With what | hope was a smile IN my words,
| indicated that being misunderstood is the MUD
martyrdom to which the vocation Of writing seems
occasionally to lead
| thought that was the end of the matter, but |
aaS flabbargasted to receive some letters cheering
me on, and arguing that | was right, whereas the young
husbands position would bear further examination.
The husband, for instance, said his wife worked,
for one reason, to finance Catholic education for their
children. This brought from Robert ]. Bauer, OF
Anoka, Mimi the following rebuttal:
"A Catholic education consists mainly IN the home
and the atmosphere provided there -.
/ don't deny that it is very beneficial for a son
or daughter to attend a Catholic high school and col
lege, but not at the expense of giving up q Catholic
home where the mother is the heart.
'If, in order to donate to the school fund, ones
wife must work, | think any pastor would say to for
get about the school fund and have the wife remain at
home.
AS FOR YOU Mr.. Breig, instead of living in an
ivory tower, as the writer suggests, you have consls-
family given US articles of real practical value.
"You can be assured that the subscription which
the letterWriter cancelled will be replaced by a person
for whom intend to purchase a subscription, who will
appreciate good advice from a good Catholic journal
Equally vigorous was a letter from Mrs. Hugo
A. Cabrera of Columbus, who wrote in part:
YOU ARE 1000 right, and don't give one inch
In your stand. There is a hue and cry about juvenile
delinquency, and let me tell you, | have watched the
seeds nurtured.
These little ones are left, either by working
mothers or their counterparts = mothers who don't
care - and all day they wander about. inadequately
dressed, fed and tended to
Lets face it, the mother sets the pace morally
and physically These parents, when confronted
with serious evidence of their childs mlsdoing, ask
sullenly what do you expect them to do about it.
"A few years later, these complacent parents are
screaming at the sociologists and j%urists, Do some
thing! Save my child
but DURING the formative years, they we're
thinking more of their own creature comforts.
-. Really, it doesn't take a great deal of caring
to raise a child to be a good and God-fearing citizen.
They thrive on our meager crumbs.
"... Most of the mothers Jobs are not providing
milk and shoes. They are providing temptation to be
lazy at home, to spend more than she should. and to
be too tired for her role of mother and wife"
Mrs, Virginia Westerfield, of Cleveland. wrote
that a working wife can often weaken or kill a mans
incentive.
Mrs. Anna M. Hermann of Des Moines, Iowa,
wrote:
You are absolutely right about working wives
-. Rearing a family is a full time Job for any woman.
sary for q wife TO work But don't LET your cores
pendent get you down. Your columns are very good.
You must expect some abuse"
Pardon my bushes, / can stand abuse; it's the
opposite that casts me into confusion.