ITALY'S MARRIAGE LAW

Evening Star, Issue 14626, 24 July 1911, Page 10

ITALY'S MARRIAGE LAW

According to a correspondent of tho 'Scotsman,' who writes to that journal from Venice re tho Italian marriage law, which is now operative, marriage is defined to be a purely civil contract; which must be performed by the syndic- (or mayor) of the place where the couple/ reside, or by one x -rf bis assessors, and not iu a private house, but in a room open to the public in the Municipal Chambers. The presence of a priest on such occasions is illegal, unless he comes as a witness or a spectator. The couple may choose afterwards to go to a church and get tho Church's benedie- . tion on their union. But "a priest; cannot marry a couple in Italy; the j Pope himself could not do so, and if hedid, the couple would be considered living in concubinage, and if any children were born of the union they would be registered as illegitimate, and on thp. death of their parents they could riot inherit real property, which, if it existed, would be in part given to the

next-of-kin, and in part confiscated." It is further said that a Bill was recently brought before Parliament to imprison the priests and their witnesses who dare to pretend to be able to perform the marriage ceremony. Further, no priest is allowed to annoy an Italian subject for doing what the law enjoins or permits. "If, therefore, a priest goes to a couple married civilly, and says to them that they are living in concubinage, because not married by the Church, he renders himself liable to fine and imprisonment. He is not allowed to impugn the law of the land, nor is he allowed to disturb Hie peace of a family."