Vatican Annuls Mason’s Marriage

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31318, 14 March 1967, Page 2

Vatican Annuls Mason’s Marriage

(N.Z. Pres* Association—Copyright) ROME, March 12. The Vatican’s Sacred Rota has annulled the marriage of a Sicilian stonemason to a young Calabrian girl because the groom tried to have a friend consummate the union for him, the Rome newspaper “H Tempo” said today.

“Il Tempo” said the Sacred Rota, the Vatican's highest court, granted the annulment recently at the request of the bride, 18-year-oid Rosa Magnolo of Reggio Calabria. It said the wedding between her and the Sicilian, Matteo Caravalla, aged 27, took place in Reggiodi Calabria three years ago. “11 Tempo” said the couple had no funds to take a honeymoon and were put on their wedding night in a room provided by relatives. “Il Tempo” said Caravalla showed himself timid and spent what Rosa felt was “an unusually long time discussing things of little importance.” All at once, the newspaper said, Caravalla made a "timid

excuse” and left the dark room. Unknown at first to Rosa a friend of Caravalla returned and entered the wedding bed. When she learned that it was not Caravalla who had returned, “Il Tempo" said, ahe screamed and fled from the room and the next day began proceedings to have the marriage annulled. “Il Tempo” said Caravalla and his family asked the friend to consummate the wedding for him “to uphold at all costs the long tradition of the Caravalla family’s virility.” It said the Sacred Rota’s decision was based on the fact that the marriage was not consummated.