DIVORCE AND RE-MARRIAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 9 March 1899, Page 3

DIVORCE AND RE-MARRIAGE.

AN ANGLICAN MANIFESTO.

The following- manifesto by the Conference of Bishops held in Christchurch in respect of the attitude of the Church in respect to the marriage of divorced persons is published: — 1. That the Church of this province received its constitution on June 13, 1837. 2. That at that time the remarriage of divorced persons was strictly forbidden in the CTiurch of England. 3. That the rule which prevailed at that time in the Church of England became the rule of the Church of this province, and must continue so to be until such time as it shall be altered by Act of the General Synod. We wish it to be known that the remarriage of a divorced person during the lifetime of the other party is therefore contrary to the law of the Church of this province, and that no bishop or priest of the Church is at liberty to celebrate snch a marriage. We recognise the diversity of opinion and practice which has prevailed in the Catholic Church in regard to the remarriage of the innocent party in a case of a divorce for adultery, and unless in any particular instance we find good reason to the contrary we shall instruct the clergy not to refuse the sacraments and other privileges of the Church to those who, under civil sanction, are thus married, but we require that every such case shall be submitted to the bishop of the diocese for his consideration. This is signed by the Bishops of Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Waiapu, Wellington, and Melanesia.