Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 9.djvu/750

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Similarly^ easy divorce gives an impetus to illicit re- have beeo already attained; and, second, that the

lations between the unmarried, inasmuch as it tends to same policy will be f oimd essentia to the highest d»-

destroy the association in the popular consciousness gree oi civilization.

between se^oial intercourse and the enduring union of (5) AhsienHan Jrom Marriage. — ^With a verv few one man with one woman. Another evil is the in- unimportant exceptions all peoples, sava^ and civ- crease in the number of hasty and unfortunate mar- ilized, that have not accepted the Cathouc religion, riages among persons who look forward to divorce as have looked with some disdain upon celibacy. Savage an eas^ remeay for present mistakes. Inasmuch as races many much earlier, and have a smaller propor- the children of a divorced couple are deprived of their tion of cehbates than civilized nations. Dunng the normal heritage, which is education ana care by both last centuiy the proportion of unmarried persons has father and mother in the same household, they almost increased in the United States and in Europe. The always suffer ^ve and varied disadvantages. Finally, causes of this change are partly economic, inasmuch there is the injury done to the moral clumEuster gener- as it has become more difficult to support a family in ally. Indissoluble marriage is one of the most effective accordance with contemporary stanoards of living; means of developing self-control and mutual self-sacri- partly social, inasmuch as the increased social pleasure fice. Many salutary inconveniences are endured be- and opportunities have displaced to some degree do- cause they cannot be avoided, and many imperfections mestic desires and interests; and partly moral, inas- of temper and character arc corrected because the much as laxer notions of chastity nave increased the husband and wife realize that thus only is conjugal number of those who satisfy their sexual desires out- happiness possible. On the other hand, when divorce side of marriage. From the viewpoint of social moral- is easily obtained there is no sufficient motive for under- ity and social welfare, this modern celibacy is an al- goinK those inconveniences which are so essential to most unmixed evil. On the other hand, the religious self-discipline, self-development, and the practice of celibacy taught and encouraged by the Church is altruism. socially benencial, since it shows that continence is

All the objections just noted are valid against fre- practicable, and since religious celibates exemplify a

quent divorce, against the abuse of divorce, but not nigher degree of altruism than any other section of

fi^inst divorce so far as it implies separation from bed society. The assertion that celibacy tends to make

and board without the right to contract another mar- the married state seem low or unworthy, is contra-

riage. The Church permits limited separation in cer- dieted by the public opinion and practice of every

tain cases, chiefly, when one of the parties has been country m which celibacy is held in highest honour,

guilty of adultery, and when further cohabitation For it is precisely in such places that the marriage

would cause grave injury to soul or body. If divorce relation, and the relations between the sexes generally,

were restricted to these two cases some pretend that are purest (see Ceubact).

it would be socially preferable to mere separation with- (6) Marriage as a Ceremony or ContrcuU, — The act, f or- out the right to remarry, at least for the innocent mality, or ceremony by which the marriage union is spouse. But it would surely be less advantageous to created, has differed widely at different times and society than a regime of no divorce. Where mere among different peoples. One of the earliest and separation is permitted, it will in a considerable propor- most frequent customs associated with the entrance tion of instances need to be only temporary, and the into marriage was the capture of the woman by her welfare of parents and children will be better pro- intended husband, usually from another tribe than moted by reconciliation than if one of the parties that to which he himself belonged. Among most formed another matrimonial union. When there is primitive peoples this act seems to nave been regarded no hope of another marriage, the offences that justify rather as a means of getting a wife, than as the forma- separation are less likely to be provoked or committed tion of the marriage union itself. The latter was sub- by either i>arty, and separation is less likely to be sequent to the capture, and was generally devoid of sought on insufficient grounds, or obtained through any formality whatever, beyond mere cohabitation, fraudulent methods. Moreover, experience shows But the symbolic seizure of wives continued in many tiiat when divorce is permitted for a few causes, there places long after the reality had ceased. It still exists is an almost irresistible tendency to increase the num- among some of the lower races, and until quite recently ber of le^ grounds, and to make the administration of was not unknown in some parts of Eastern Europe, the law less strict. Finally, the ajbaolute prohibition After the practice had become simulated instead of of divorce has certain m^f* effects which contribute actual, it was frequently looked upon as either the in a fundamental an4,^far-reaching way to the social whole of the marriage ceremony or an essential accom- welfare. The pop^rfar mind is impressed with the paniment of the marriage. Symbolic capture has thought that mapiage is an exclusive relation between laigely given way to wife purchase, which seems to pre- two persons, a^^that sexual intercourse of itself and vail among most uncivilizied peoples to-day. It has as- normally call§ f or a lifelong union of the persons en- sumed various forms. Sometimes the man desiring a tering udoq such intercourse. wife gave one of his kinswomen in exchange; some-

The ooliffation of self-control, and of subordinating times he served for a period his intended bride's father, the animal in human nature to the reason and the which was a frequent custom among the ancient He- spirit, ad well as the possibility of fulfilling this obliga- brews; but most often the bride was paid for in money tion, %re likewise taught in a most striking and practi- or some form of property. Like capture, purchase cal m&nner. Humanity is thus aided andf encouraged became after a time amon^ many peoples a symbol to to reach a higher moral plane. In the matter of the in- signify the taking of a wife and the formation of the dissolubility, as w^ell as in that of the unity of marriage, marriage union. Sometimes, however, it was merely then^fore, the Christian teaching is in harmony with an accompanying ceremony. Various other cere- nature at her best, and with the deepest needs of monial forms have accompanied or constituted the civilization. "There is abundant evidence '^ says entrance upon the marriage relation, the most common W^termarck, "that marriage has, upon the whole, of which was some kind of feast; yet among many un- bebome more durable in proportion as the human race civilized peoples marriage has taken place, ana still has risen to higher degrees of civilization, and that a takes place, without any formal ceremony whatever, certain amount of civiBzation is an essential condition By many uncivilized races, and by most civilized of the formation of lifelong unions" (op. cit., p. ones, the marriage ceremony is regarcbed as a religious 635). This statement suggests two tolerably sale rite or includes religious features, although the re-

§eneralizations: first, thatuie prohibition of divoroe ligious element is not always regarded as necessary to

uring many centuries has been a cause as well as an the validity of the union. Under the Christian dls-

effect of those "higher degrees of civilization" that pensation marriage is a religiousaet of the very higjhflHt