Feminine attire corrupts morals

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 00:00

August 31, 1928. Monsignor Emmanuel Celestin Suhard, Bishop of Lisieux, France, has announced a worldwide crusade against immodesty in feminine attire, the Toronto Telegram reports.

Efforts to suppress immoral plays, improper films and pornographic books also will be made.

Bishop Suhard is planning this vigorous attack under the patronage of Sainte Therese de Lisieux. In his words, it is to be waged against "the pernicious and worldly ideas of our century and the degrading corruptive fashions of today." The call to arms has already been made in les Annales de Sainte Therese de Lisieux, the official publication of this pilgrimage centre.

"The corruption of morals," he declares, "is due to the immorality of feminine attire. The contagion is so universal that there is hardly any remedy except to influence the next generation."

In order to inculcate ideas of chastity and piety among the youths of the world, Bishop Suhard has conceived the formation of an international organization made up of Catholic children. It would have chapters in practically every country of the world and would be called "The Pious Union of the Protected Children of Sainte Therese of the Infant Jesus."

Both sexes will be able to join, but the union will be particularly for girls. They will be pledged to follow decency in dress.

Bishop Suhard specifies the styles of garb [that are to be avoided]. They include blouses which descend lower than two inches from the hollow of the throat; dresses whose sleeves do not reach the elbow; skirts which fail to conceal the knees; transparent stockings and especially flesh-coloured ones which give the impression of nakedness.