Scourges against Marriage 2 - Books & Media against Marriage Are Emissaries of the Devil

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Forgotten Truths

Books & Media against Marriage
Are Emissaries of the Devil

Today we continue with the series on marriage that brings to our readers arguments and papal documents pointing out the principal modern scourges against this Sacrament.

In his Encyclical Casti connubii, Pius XI presents an overview of the attacks against marriage made by books, films, radio and other media, and calls them emissaries of the Great Enemy, who is none other than the Devil.

Although the Internet and the recent Social Media platforms did not exist when Pope Pius XI wrote this encyclical, they should certainly be considered as included in those censures because they are filled with those materials condemend by the Pope.

Pius XI
When we consider the great excellence of chaste wedlock, Venerable Brethren, it appears all the more regrettable that particularly in our day we should witness this divine institution often scorned and on every side degraded.

For now, alas, not secretly nor under cover, but openly, with all sense of shame put aside, now by word again by writings, by theatrical productions of every kind, by romantic fiction, by amorous and frivolous novels, by cinematographs portraying in vivid scene, in addresses broadcast by radio telephony, in short by all the inventions of modern science, the sanctity of marriage is trampled upon and derided; divorce, adultery, all the basest vices either are extolled or at least are depicted in such colors as to appear to be free of all reproach and infamy. Books are not lacking which dare to pronounce themselves as scientific but which in truth are merely coated with a veneer of science in order that they may the more easily insinuate their ideas.

The doctrines defended in these are offered for sale as the productions of modern genius, of that genius namely, which, anxious only for truth, is considered to have emancipated itself from all those old-fashioned and immature opinions of the ancients; and to the number of these antiquated opinions they relegate the traditional doctrine of Christian marriage.

These thoughts are instilled into men of every class, rich and poor, masters and workers, lettered and unlettered, married and single, the godly and godless, old and young, but for these last, as easiest prey, the worst snares are laid.

Not all the sponsors of these new doctrines are carried to the extremes of unbridled lust; there are those who, striving as it were to ride a middle course, believe nevertheless that something should be conceded in our times as regards certain precepts of the divine and natural law. But these likewise, more or less wittingly, are emissaries of the Great Enemy who is ever seeking to sow cockle among the wheat. (Matt 13:25)

We, therefore, whom the Father has appointed over His field, We who are bound by Our most holy office to take care lest the good seed be choked by the weeds, believe it fitting to apply to Ourselves the most grave words of the Holy Ghost with which the Apostle Paul exhorted his beloved Timothy: "Be thou vigilant … Fulfill thy ministry … Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine." (2 Tim 4:2-5)

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Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Casti connubii,
December 31, 1930, §§ 44-47
Posted on January 14, 2023

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