The Family vs. Capitalism
BY: DOROTHY DAY
The Catholic Worker Newspaper
January 4, 1936
The papers have been telling us recently of the new trend in Soviet Russia to glorify
the woman who raises a family rather than the woman in the factory or driving a
tractor. Even there, it seems, the experimentation in social relations has confirmed
what Catholic sociology has alwa ys taught, that.
There are so many things needed for the reconstruction of social order out of chaos today that we scarcely know where
to begin. Catholic trade unions? Co-operatives? Farming communes? Schools and colleges? Personal responsibility?
All of these, of course–but personal responsibility on the part of the individual alone does not perpetuate a new mode of
life; schools and colleges are directed by those brought up in the old ways; communities of individuals die out or change
their character; Catholic co-operatives and trade unions cannot begin to exist until we have Catholics living their faith
and creating a truly Catholic culture and tradition.
So it is to the re-creation of the Catholic family, that microcosm of society and type of the Mystical Body, that we must
look now if we expect later generations in this country to see Catholicism, instead of Marxism, a vital force in the nation,
if we hope to maintain “the freedom of the children of God” against the diabolic forces of fascism. if we wish our
posterity to enjoy the peace which is their heritage from Christ instead of the strife of wars and hatreds between nations
and classes.
Marxist Communism has been condemned by Catholics for its destruction of family life. What then of capitalism, which
creates an ever-growing proletariat ground down to such a level of insecurity and misery that decent family life is almost
impossible? Probably we have all wondered about the dismal future of young people finishing school these days, with
years of sterile learning behind them and no prospects of a job ahead. There are countless thousands of them well on
in their twenties today who have never had a job and whose chances decrease as the years pass. Capitalism bars them
from living by the fruits of the labor they would willingly give, and marriage is out of the question. Even if they have jobs,
Catholic young people dare not assume the responsibilities of marriage because they “can’t afford a baby.”
Economists tell us that in days of prosperity children are an economic asset. We assert that in these days of revolution,
when we Catholics must arm ourselves with the Holy Spirit to “renew the face of the earth,” in this struggle, too, children
are an asset and family life the most powerful and enduring form of propaganda.
We cannot understand, then, the shortsightedness of Catholics who contribute generously for Catholic schools and
neglect to aid the Catholic family life from which the schools must draw their students. Long-range action is needed
here; but there is also an immediate and urgent need, in the New York Diocese especially. We have often commented,
in THE CATHOLIC WORKER, on the high cost of maternity care here and the lack of facilities for such care under
Catholic auspices. Chicago has its large Catholic maternity hospital, where, in the short time it has existed, over ten
thousand mothers have been cared for, many without charge. Other dioceses have established maternity guilds on a
parish or diocesan basis. But in New York, where last year Misericordia Hospital–the only Catholic hospital in the city
which accepts free maternity cases–cared for nearly 1,000 free maternity patients, there is no diocesan provision
whatsoever for the poor who are trying to observe the teachings of the Church against birth control and raise families
despite their economic circumstances!
We would suggest that as a first, even though inadequate, step toward realizing out ideals of family life our Catholic laypeople and clergy show the sincerity of their conviction by raising their voices in loud agitation for Catholic provision of
such care.
“We offer up to Thee, O Lord, a victim of ransom, humbly entreating that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mother
of God and blessed Joseph, Thou wouldst strongly establish our families in Thy peace and Thy grace.” (Secret, Feast of
the Holy Family.)