The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

MATRIMONY. 475in the country. The statistics given of Ohio andConnecticut will enable us to form some idea of thefearful catalogue of divorces annually obtained inthe United States.There are some who regard the Catholic Churchas too severe in proclaiming the absolute indissolubilityof marriage. But it should be borne in mind,that it is not the Church, but the divine Founder ofthe Christian religion, that has given us the law.She merely enforces its observance.But the law, how rigorous soever, is mercy itself,when compared with the cruel consequences whichtoilow from the easy concession of divorce.The facility with which marriageis annulled ismost injuriousto the morals of individuals, of thefamily, and of society.It leads to ill-assorted and hasty marriages, because personsare less circumspect in making a compact which may be afterwards dissolved almost at will.It stimulates a discontented and unprincipled husbandor wife to lawlessness, quarrels, and even adultery,well knowing that the very crime will afford a pretext and legal grounds for a separation.It engenders between husband and wife fierce litigationsabout the custody of their offspring.Itdeprivesthe children of the protecting arm of a father, orthe gentlecare of a mother, and too frequently consigns them to the cold charity of the world for the;married couple who are wanting in conjugal love forone another are too often also destitute of parental