REMARRIAGE OF DIVORCEES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 12

REMARRIAGE OF DIVORCEES

Attitude Of Anglican Church In N.Z.

BISHOP WARREN REPLIES TO CORRESPONDENT

“In New Zealand, no priest of the Church of England (or to give it its full name, the Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England) is at liberty to marry a divorced person.” said the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) yesterday. The Bishop was replying to a letter to the editor of “The Press” from “Student” about a statement made by the Bishop of London (Dr. H. M. Campbell) last week on the attitude of the Church of England to divorce.

The correspondent said: “Dr. Campbell’s statement must be very difficult to understand by those outside the church and perhaps more so by those like myself, who had their early religious training in the Church of England. While I do not hold with the common idea of divorce for any and every reason, nevertheless, for the cause of fornication or desertion, I do agree, as it is Scriptural. I know of cases where partners have been remarried in the Church of England after being the divorcer. This position is held by divines of very high authority in the Church of England. It would seem that the position taken by Dr. Campbell, is anti-Scriptural.” Bishop Warren said the Church of England, in England, was in the process of revising its canon law. “This process is a lengthy one. There have been printed in our papers, on three occasions, cabled passages, each of which obviously gave only part of what has been said on the subject. In view of the incomplete nature of cabled reports, it would be impossible to make any satisfactory comment on ’the situation here. If ‘Student’ cares to see me. I will gladly make time available.” ’

There were one or two returns to come from outlying places, but the 1956 Poppy Day return so far was £4030, just short of a record, said Mr G. D. Hattaway. president of the Christchurch Returned Services Association, last evening.