Divorce and the Church

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 150, 26 June 1937, Page 5

Divorce and the Church

Archbishop’s Views On New Marriage Bill GRAVE ABUSES OCCUR (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 24. Mr A P. Herbert’s Marriage Bill, amending the law of divorce, reached the House of Lords and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Lang, intervened in the second reading debate to date his position. The existing law in the matter of divorce had proved to be unsatisfactory •in its operation, he stated, and had given rise to grave abuses detrimental not only to marriage itself but to public morality. The present Bill contained some valuable remedies against this and he could not honestly vote against its second reading. On the other hand, as a representative officer of the Church, dn his judgment divorce and certainly re-marriage after divorce, was inconsistent with tho principles laid down by Christ and the Church and he could not take the responsibility of promoting legislation inconsistent with those principles. Dr. Lapg said that he would consequently take no part in the division and he advised others of a like roind to follow the same course. Packed benches and galleries listened with intense interest to the debate. The Archbishop of Canterbury said that adultery was being treated with shocking levity. He referred to false evidence being given in divorce actions and continued: “I am astonished rhat honourable men could employ devices only describable as * constructive erjury. * It is difficult not to place vilful desertion in the same category s adultery as a ground for divorce, it I would not support the inclusion p insanity.** The Bishop of Durham said that the fill would bring the law of England into deeper and truer harmony with the law of Christ.