For Young Men and Maidens.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 9, 27 February 1902, Page 18

For Young Men and Maidens.

Some of our young men and maidens are at a loss to understand the attitude of the Church in regard to mixed marriages. Briefly, they are forbidden because (1) the sanctity of marriage require? that the contracting parties should both be, by faith and other dispositions of the soul, in a state to receive the grace of the sacrament, and (2) because of the domestic discord that so frequently follows such unions, and the danger of divorce, or of the Catholic party or of the children becoming perverts or lapsing into indifferentism or infidelity.

In Germany a regular census of changes of religion is kept. The lesson that may be learned from it is this : that Catholicism is the greatest loser and infidelity the greatest gainer by mixed marriages. It has been ascertained that such unions have produced similar results in the United States. Here is a paragraph from an editorial article in a recent issue of the New York Freeman's Journal which would furnish a text for a usefnl Bermon next Sunday and give a warning to those of our matrimonially inclined young men and women who are casting sheep's eyes over the picket. fences of the various denominations : ' A recent census taken by agents of the Young Men's Christian Association, acting in co. operation with the Federal Census Bureau, shows the evil effects of mixed marriages viewed from a Catholic standpoint. Representative cities, towns, and country districts were selected in different parts of the United State?, and in individual cities representative wards were selected and average blocks in these wards were visited in a house-to-house canvass. A number of questions were framed and a blank containing them was given to each of the young men between the ages of 16 and 35 who were questioned. The net result is summarised in Association Men, an organ of the Young Men's Christian Association. Here is an extract from the summary which speaks for itself :

4 " In families where the father and mother belong to the same ohurch, 78 per cent, of the young men are church members. In families where the father and mother are ohurch members, but do not belond to the same church, only 55 per cent, of the young men are church members. In families where but one of the parents is a church member, only 50 per cent, of the young men are members of churches. Where the father and mother are both Catholics, only 8

per cent, of the young men are not church members. Where the father and mother are both Protestants, 32 per cent, of the young men are not church members. Where one of the parents is 3 Catholio and the other a Protestant, 66 per cent, of the young men do not belong to a church. Where the parents are membere of Protestant churches, but do not belong to the same church, 50 per cent, of the young men of these families are not church members. Where one of the parents is a Catholic, 44 per cent of the young men do not belong ,to church. Where one of the parents is a Protestant, 51 per cent, do not belong to church." '

These figures tell a plain, unvarnished tale and convey a lesson which he that runs may read. 'Go over these figures,' says our valued New York contemporary, • and you will appreciate the reasons why the Church does not approve of mixed marriages. Take note that where father and mother are Catholics only 8 per oent. of the sons do not attend church. Where one of the parents is a Catholic and the other is a Protestant 66 per cent, do not attend church.'