NE TEMERE DECREE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10659, 4 August 1920, Page 5

NE TEMERE DECREE

CATHOLICS AND MARRIAGE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL INVESTIGATION. Writing to the "Times," tho Rev. Howard Elliott forwards a copy of a letter addressed by him yesterday "to tho Hon. Sir Francis Bell'relating to tho invitation to givo evidence before the Statutes Revision Committee of tho Legislative Council extended by Sir Francis Bell and replied to by Dr O'Shea on Sunday .last at St. Joseph's Church."

The letter is as follows: Tho Hon. Sir Francis Bell, Kt., Leader of the Legislative Council, Parliament House, Wellington.—Sir,—Referring to your statement before tho Legislative Council in respect to the evidence tendered before tho Statutes Revision Committee on tho operation of the rules of a. certain denomination on marriage, and Dr O'Shea's statement in reply thereto as published in tho Press of yesterday, 1 beg respectfully to suggest that the Statutes Revision Committee summons Dr O'Shea. and any other representative of his denomination whom he may nominate to giro evidence before that committee. That I will appear and request to bo allowed the opportunity of questioning tho representative© of tho Roman Church before the committee; and, further, that the Press be permitted to be present to report the evidence adduced. Tho subject is of such deep publio concern, and tho ecandal in connection therewith so grave, that it is in tho public interest that tho evidence on either side be made available to the general public. Should the traditions and forms of your Council permit my suggestion being acted upon, and should you graciously agree, with the consent of the chairman of the Statutes Revision Committee, to accept that suggestion, I will have pleasure in proving that Dr O'Shea's statement denying that (R.) "Catholic marriage i laws interfere in any way with" tho 1 Civil Law" is unfounded.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient serjvant (Signed) Howard Elliott. RESOLUTION FROM WANGANUI. A Press Association message states that tho Wanganui divisional executive of the P.P.A. passed the following resolution to-night:—"That this meeting of the Wanganui divisional executive calls upon the Dominion executive of the P.P.A. to give evidence, before the Statutes Revision Committee on the Marriage Amendment Act and to direct the council's attention to the "Pink Catechism," a. text-book approved bv the archbishops and bishops of New Zealand, and directed to be used in all dioceses, in which it is definitely stated that 'two Catholics, or a Catholic and a Protestant, married by a Protestant minister, or by a civil registrar, are not married «b atl.' "-