MARRIAGE SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 159, 8 July 1935, Page 5

MARRIAGE SERVICE.

ATTEMPT TO ALTER IT.

"NEVER SEEK DIVORCE."

ANGLICAN CONTROVERSY

(Special.—By Air Mail.)

LONDON, June 15,

From influential quarters attacks are being made on the Church of England marriage service. Next month the Church Assembly—the Parliament of the Church of England—will be asked to declare for a "secular" form of marriage service for those who arc not members of the Church of England and an attempt v.'ill be made to include in the marriage service a declaration by both man and woman that they will never seek divorce. The motion demanding a "secular" form of marriage has been set down in the name of a clergyman and a layman. It suggests the marriage service should be reserved solely for communicants — people who have been confirmed and who attend Holy Communion. Another proposal provides for a solemn declaration by husband and wife that iii no circumstances will either of them sue for divorce, to be incorporated in, or added to, the marriage service. If the bride or bridegroom refused to make this declaration, the clergyman would refuse to marry them. It is also proposed that if a man or woman broke the undertakings and sued for divorce they should be punished with ecclesiastical "pains and penalties." This means they would be refused.Communion. This proposal is certain to cause such bitter quarrels that an attempt is being made to shelve it. Any of these proposals, if carried out, will have tremendous results.