MODERN DANCING.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1926, Page 4

MODERN DANCING.

CONDEMN EI>~IN CANA DA

VANCOUVER, December 14. Catholics "in high places' in Canada have joined in the country-wide protest against the present wave of immoral dancing, and immodest dresses of modern women in Canada and the United States, and from his hospital bed. His Grace Mgr. Roy Archbishop of Quebec, issued a pastoral letter to. his clergy asking them to warn the faithful against bad theatres, bad moving pictures, and so-called lascivious dances. Following the death of His Eminence Cardinal Begin, who had issued a letter condemning modern dances, there had been a “ Laissez Aller ” among Canadian Catholics, who interpreted the ruling of tlicfr late pastor as over. General reference has now been made in the churches to the subject and Catholics have been urged not to dance. The document read: “The season of winter amusements will soon open. Tlie Catholic Church has never intended to forbid to its children good entertainments, at which it is permitted to have a good time in an honest manner without offending God and without violating the moral laws made by God. “ Unfortunately, the world is threatened with menaces of immorality unknown in the past, and its influence is even spreading among our good Quebec families, which have always been so careful in carrying on their moral and social duties.

“The religious authorities at the 1923 Diocesan synod and in documents which wore later given out, signalled in the most explicit terms the two principal dangers, had theatres and bad 'moving pictures, a.nd lascivious dances. It is our duty to declare that the authority maintains without ally changes whatever the defences it issued regarding those questions.

“It is serious disobedience to the spiritual leaders of the diocese and against the church to frequent scandalous theatres, where vice is applauded, and virtue ridiculed, so that progressively vice penetrates Into the souls of good people. “ No less a disobedience is it to partake in those dances, which have already been so severely condemned by the late Archbishop, Cardinal Begin. Ba nees, which openly manifest their lascivious object, and which is a provocation to sin.

“ You will please recall, in this matter, the doctrine and the constant request of the Church, and place before a number of parents, who seem to ho so blind to what is going on, tho strict obligation under which they are to prevent their children from choosing a dangerous road, which they will follow if they listen to the appeal of pleasures. We cannot make too many efforts to irv to save our families from the numerous dangers which are surrounding them.”