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OCR
THE CATHOLIC CONGRESS. . 63
blessings which, through our free institutions, God Almighty de-
signed for the people of our land.
As to the heed to be paid to the rights of the individual, we favor
those means, measures, and systems by which these are to be secured.
We recognize next in importance to religion itself education as
one of the chief factors in forming the character of the individual,
the virtue of the citizen, and promoting the advance of a true civil-
ization. ‘Therefore, we are committed to a sound, popular educa-
tion, which demands not only physical and intellectual, but also the
moral and religious training of our youth.
As in the state schools, no provision ismade for teaching relig-
ion, we must continue to support our ownschools, multiply and per-
fect colleges and universities already established and others, so that
the benefits of a Christian education may be brought within the
reach of every Catholic child in these United States.
We also recognize among the three great educational agencies,
besides the church and school, the Christian home. ‘‘ The root of
the commonwealth is in the homes of the people.’’. Whatever im-
perils its permanency, security, and peace, is a blow aimed, not only
at individual rights, but is an attempt to subvert civil society and
Christian civilization.
Therefore, we denounce the existence and development of Mor-
monism, and the tendency to multiply causes of divorce a vinculo,
as plague spots on our civilization, a discredit toour government, a
degradation of the female sex, and a standing menace to the sanctity
of the marriage bond.
We likewise hold that it is not sufficient for individual Catho-
lics to shun bad or dangerous societies, but they ought to take part in
good and useful ones. The importance of Catholic societies, the
necessity of union and concert’ of action to accomplish aught, are
manifest. These societies should be organized on a religious, and
not on a race or national basis. We must always remember that
the Catholic Church knows no north or south, no east or west,
no race, no coior. National societies, as such, have no place in the
church in this country ; but, like this congress itself, they should
be Catholic and American.
We commend the plan and form of the St. Vincent de Paul ©
Society as a typical Catholic society. It is impossible to enumerate
all the societies whose labors have done so much in the past to suc-
cor the poor and alleviate human misery ; and it must, therefore, be
left to individual action, to select the field in which each shall aid
in religious and charitable work.
As our young men, however, are the hope of the future, we
especially commend their societies to the support and encourage-
ment of Catholics. As these were commended in a special manner
by the plenary council, we recommend the establishment of these
societies throughout the land, and urge upon the: laity the import-
ance of supporting them by every means within their power.
We recommend the extension of societies designed to assist the
widows and children of deceased members; societies for the relief of
the poor and distressed, not forgetting measures tending to improve
the condition of inmates of our penal institutions.
Another danger which menaces our republic is the constant con-
flict between capital and labor. We, therefore, at all times must
view with feelings of regret and alarm any antagonism existing
between them, because thereby society itself is imperilled.
With the church, we condemn nihilism, socialism, and com-
munism, and we equally condemn the heartless greed of capital.
The remedy must be sought in the mediation of the church, through
her action on the individual conscience, and thereby on society,
teaching each its respective duties, as well as rights; and in such
civil enactments as have been rendered necessary by these altered
conditions. As stated by his eminence, Cardinal Gibbons: ‘‘Labor
has its sacred rights, as well as its dignity. Paramount among the
rights of the laboring classes is their privilege to organize or to form
themselves into societies for their mutual protection and benefit. In
honoring and upholding labor, the nation is strengthening its own
hands, as well as paying a tribute to worth; for a contented and
happy working class are the best safeguard of the republic.”
We disapprove of the employment of very young minors,
whether male or female, in factories, as tending to dwarf and retard
the true development of the wage earners of the future.
We pledge ourselves to cooperate with the clergy in discussing
and in solving those great economic and social questions which affect
the interests and well-being of the church, the country, and society
at large. .
We respectfully protest against any change in the policy of the
government in the matter of the education of the Indians, by which
they will be deprived of Christian teaching.
The amelioration and promotion of the physical and moral
culture of the negro race is a subiect of the utmost concern, and we
pledge ourselves to assist our clergy in all ways tending to effect
any improvement in their condition. .
We are in favor of Catholics taking greater part than they have
hitherto taken in general philanthropic and reformatory movements.
The obligation to help the needy, and to instruct the ignorant, is
not limited to the needy and ignorant of our own communion; but
we are concerned, both as Catholics and as Americans, in the refor-
mation of all the criminals and the support of all the poor in the
country. By mingling more in such works of natural virtue, as our
non-Catholic citizens are engaged in, and taking our proper share in
the management of prisons and hospitals, we might exert a Catholic
influence outside of our own body, make ourselves better known,
and infuse into those good works something of supernatural charity,
at the same time that we are solacing the unfortunate and reforming
the erring; and we should be able to insist on Catholic inmates
being freely ministered to by their ownclergy. We must assert and
secure the right of conscience of Catholics in all institutions under
public control.
There are many Christian issues in which Catholics could come
together with non-Catholics, and shape civil legislation for the pub-
lic weal. . In spite of rebuff and injustice, and overlooking zealotry,
we should seek alliance with non-Catholics for proper Sunday
observance. Without going over to the Judaic Sabbath, we can
bring the masses over to the moderation of the Christian Sunday.
To effect this we must set our faces sternly against the sale of intoxi-
cating beverages on Sunday. ‘The corrupting influence of saloons
on politics, the crime and pauperism resulting from excessive drink-
ing, require legislative restriction which we can aid in procuring by
joining our influence with that of the other enemies of intemperance.
Let us resolve that drunkenness shall be made odious, and give prac-
tical encouragement and support to Catholic temperance societies.
We favor the passage and enforcement of laws rigidly closing saloons
on Sunday, and forbidding the sale of liquors to minors and intoxi-
cated persons.
Efforts should be made to promote Catholic reading. It is our
duty to support liberally good Catholic journals and books, and
acquaint ourselves with Catholic doctrine and opinion on the import-
ant questions constantly coming to the front and demanding right
answers and just, practical solutions. There are comparatively few
Catholics who cannot afford the cost of a Catholic journal, or do not
spend much more for a story-paper or novel than the price of one.
We not only recommend Catholics to subscribe more generally for
Catholic periodicals, quarterly, monthly, or weekly, but look with
eagerness for the establishment of daily Catholic newspapers in our
large cities and a Catholic associated press agency. If our Catholic
literature is not equal to the standard by which we measure it, this
is due, at least in part, to the slight encouragement now given to
Catholic writers of the better type.. If the best Catholic books were
extensively purchased and read, more would be written which we
should. be proud of. We recommend, therefore, the work of Cath-
olic circulating libraries and reading circles, and also efforts to have
the best Catholic books and periodicals introduced into public libra-
ries. But we do not call all books Catholic that are written by
Catholics, nor a journal which is Catholic on one page and infidel
or immoral on another.
As fast as practicable we hope for the introduction of proper
church music in all our churches where other music is now heard.
The music should help devotion at the divine service, and not be such
as tends to divert the mind from heavenly thoughts. Efforts should
be made to have the congregation join in the singing—a Catholic
custom formerly, but practised only in a few churches nowadays.
We cannot conclude without recording our solemn conviction
that the absolute freedom of the Holy See is equally indispensable
to the peace of the church and the welfare of mankind.
We demand in the name of humanity and justice, that this”
freedom be scrupulously respected by all secular governments.
We protest against the assumption by any such government of
a right to affect the interests or control the action of our Holy Father
by any form of legislation or other public act to which his full appro-
bation has not been previously given, and we pledge to Leo XIII,
the worthy pontiff to whose hands Almighty God has committed the
helm of Peter’s bark amid the tempests of this stormy age, the loyal
sympathy and unstinted aid of all his spiritual children in vindicat-
ing that perfect liberty which he justly claims as his sacred and
inalienable right.
The report of the committee on resolutions was unanimously
adopted,
ae
wee nace