MARRIAGE TIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 15

MARRIAGE TIES

METHODIST REPORT

GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE

. . (By Tx.><franh—iT**- Association.) AUCKLAND, February 26. The attitude of the Church towards the dissolution of marriage ties and to related questions was in some measure defined in a report presented to the Dominion Methodist Conference today. The report set forth the Christian ideal of marriage as revealed in the teaching and attitude of Jesus Christ, and .also as part of the natural order of life as designed by God.

While according to the teaching of

Christ marriage was indissoluble save on the'ground of .unchastity in' the marriedI'relation', the majority of the committee considered that according,to Christ's own principles insanity, physical or mental cruelty, or. desertion also provided a reason for the dissolution of the marriage bond.

.The committee, it-was explained, recognised the conflict of opinion that existed as to the traditional attitude of the Church to the matters under review as they related to modern conditions, and especially to the vital questions of birth-control ; and social disease. It therefore, regarded its findings as being of more or less tentative character and leaving room for fuller research.

The report was referred back for further consideration and for presentation through the synods to the conference of 1938. .....;