How deep a wound to morals and social purity has that accursed article of the celibacy of the clergy been! Even the best and most enlightened men in Romanist countries attach a notion of impurity to the marriage of a clergyman. And can such a feeling be without its effect on the estimation of the wedded life in general? Impossible! and the morals of both sexes in Spain, Italy, France, and. prove it abundantly.

Summary

This quote criticizes the practice of celibacy among clergy members and its negative impact on morals and social purity. It suggests that even the most educated individuals in Roman Catholic countries associate impurity with the idea of a married clergy. The quote argues that this perception of impurity, rooted in celibacy, consequently affects people's overall perception of married life. The quote also implies that the moral behavior of both men and women in countries like Spain, Italy, France, and others is evidence of the detrimental effects of celibacy on society.

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