ROMAN CATHOLIC MARRIAGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2124, 25 February 1908, Page 2

ROMAN CATHOLIC MARRIAGES.

NEW REGULATIONS. Press Association. WELLINGTON, Fob. 24. In all 'the 'Catholic churches of tlio archdiocese yesterday, a pastoral letter by Archbishop lledwood oil >the recent decree of the Sacred Congregation of the Council on .Betrothal and Marriage, and a Papal encyclical on modernist errors, was read. Regarding the marriage, his Grace said : —“lt .is very important that the Catholic .public, parents, guardians, and particularly marriageable youths, should have a clear aiul full knowledge of the new laws regarding marriages, lately issued by the 'Holy See. Let them therefore know —(1) That after Easter next any marriage between Catholics is absolutely null and void, viz., no marriage at all, unless it is contracted in the presence of a duly qualified priest and two witnesses. Hitherto, in this country, .when a Catholic in defiance of the church, presumed to get married, either in a Protestant church or in a registry office, the marriage, though grievously sinful and sacrilegious, was held by the dlnircli as valid and binding, and the (parties, to bo truly man and wife. After next Easter "sm-h a marriage in Protestant churches and registry offices will he for Catholics not only sinful, hut invalid, and persons who contract them will have merely gone through an empty ceremony,'and will he no more man and wife than they were before, and this law hinds all Catholics, even apostate and excommunicated Catholics, lint on .the other hand, it does not affect those who are not, and never have been, Catholics. Consequently, Protestants and non-Oatlio-lics generally, are outside its scope, and marriages of such in their churches, or conventicles, or registry offices, are recognised hy tlio Catholic Church, all things else permitting, as real and true marriages.”