unprecedented fact that these vast communities are composed of independent citizens, educated up to the level of understanding and insisting upon their political rights, is even more significant.
It is neither just nor reasonable for the Church to ignore the conditions which, under these circumstances, must determine political action. It is vain to discuss the laws of marriage and divorce apart from the broad probabilities of their practical acceptance.
When the moral control of nations resides in sovereigns, or hierarchies, or in a ruling class however designated, it is possible to impose on the people a code of conduct which may be far superior to their desires, but this possibility no longer exists when the balance of political power has shifted from individuals and classes to the community itself. Then it is quite futile to endeavour to establish a higher standard of morals in the laws than that which is already established in the
