Father James F. Scherer said the Catholic value system does not provide a simple “yes or no” answer to the working wife and mother.

The director of Catholic Social Services made this comment Monday night in the second of his talks on family life sponsored by the Office of Religious Education.

“A wife and mother who is employed outside the home without neglecting her husband and children has no reason for qualms of conscience, nor has anyone the right to make her feel guilty.

“Today, probably even the most conservative would agree that whenever the circle of a woman’s household is too small to permit the full use of her gifts, it is only reasonable for her to reach beyond it as long as her work outside does not imperil her home, the communion of parents and children.”

Father Scherer said there are some working wives who claim that their job enhances their domestic contribution since it makes them more interesting companions and gives them a better perspective on their children.

This brings us to another motivation of wives who work—in order to fulfill themselves. Those who agree with this argue that the typical middle-class wife has no identity, is discontented with her life at home because she does not feel that she is fulfilling any worthwhile roles, and feels that she is cut off from the mainstream of the world’s activity.

Before we too hastily analyze her discontent by saying that she is lacking in spirituality or that she has seemed to miss the point to the beautiful marriage exhortation, we should remember two things.

One is that the educated American woman is too often facing a marriage role for which she has not been prepared. The second point to be remembered is that while many wives have pointed out how challenging is the multifold role of wife and mother, their analysis was incomplete because they omitted the very real consideration that it is also a lonely one.

Five children under the age of ten may keep a woman moving; they do not, however, provide her with conversation. The root problem of loneliness in the nuclear world is overlooked. If life in general has moved out of the home, then most want to move out after it.”