MARRIAGE LAWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15317, 13 September 1920, Page 3

MARRIAGE LAWS.

ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA'S STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, this day. Archbishop O'Shea, at St. Joseph's .Church last night, referred to the proposed amendment, of . the marriage laws. He read a legal opinion as to the effect of the amendment, which held that, unless it was altered, left it doubtful whether the church could teach Its' doctrine regarding marriage as a sacrament without breaking the law. The opinion suggested that the words "true wedlock" should be altered to "legal wedlock," and to "truly and sufficiently marricu" should be added' "according 1o law.'; The Archbishop stated: "1 have informed Mr. Massey that I intend to make a public statement on the question, and that • T intended to say, if this law is passed as it stands and has the meaning put upon it by the learned counsel whom we have consulted, then I will take-.'the- : first .op-' port-unity- of deliberately breaking it.' I will encourage my priests and people to disobey it on every possible occasion, and as I .Intend to pay no fines you., will have to imprison me, and I will state that I know that . other bishops, priests, and . Catholics of the Dominion will take up exactly the same attitude towards the law." *.-■•■■ Mr. Massey replied that the counsel's opinion would be referred to the Crown Law Office before the Bill was deal{ with by the House. • The Archbishop proceeded that they mean precisely what was said, and would "defy and disobey any law preventing us from teaching the doctrines of the Church, lie did not mean to leave the Government or Parliament under any misapprehension as to what the attitude of Catholics will be m regard to the law that attacked their religious doctrines. We will resent and defy such a law, if passed, by every means m our power, and God helping us, '.we will, never allow it to prevail over us." CHRISTCHURCH, this day. In making v a statement at St. Mary's yesterday on the projected amendment to the marriage legislation; of New Zealand, Bishop Brodie said:— "ln the event of this proposed legislation coming into* effect there would he only one course open to me. I will not swerve one hair'sbreadth from the doctrine^ or discipline of our holy church, but as soon as possible, should this , amendment become law, I will publish and cause to be published m every Catholic Church of fitt> diocese the teachings of the church-re-garding the sacrament of matrimony, and m my administration will see that the teaching is strictly adhered to. Lf prosecution follows I will defend myself, even appealing to the highest tribunal or the Empire. If the Judgment goes against me I must only, with the help of God, try to bear the punishment of imprisonment, being glad to suffer some, thing for justice sake, but grieved to think our fair Dominion of New Zealand is the only part of the vast Empire, or even of the knpwn world, . wnere such legislation has been introduced. In this anxious crisis I appeal to my people for their prayers "that their bishop and priests will be faithful to their sacred trust, and that our legislators will approach the consideration of this momentous question m a 'spirit of justice and true statesmanship."AUCKLAND, this day. Bishop Cleary said thai^ a statement he intenda-. a to. publish shortly relates jo the application of the Marriage Lavs Amendment Bill, if ifc passeß m the present form, to the doctrines of the Anglican,; Presbyterian, Methodist "and other churches m the official formulas or laws and m the declaration -of their divines. The Bishop remarked that the views expressed on the legal position by counsel m Wellington were confirmed by the opinion, of eminent counsel m Auckland whom he had consulted. "According to the opinions thus expressed," ho said, "one curious and probably unexpected result of this proposed legislation would be' the placing of a ban upon the Bible and its distribution m the Dominion, inasmuch as a considerable series of extracts contained m the Sacred volume would both directly and by, implication come under penalties, with the^fine and imprisonment set forth m. sub-clauses 1 and 2 of the Bill. For the same reason the use of the quotations m question by preachers or others m the course of religious services would render them- liable to similar pains * and penalties." Bishop Cleary said that he was m entire agreement with the statements of Archbishop O'Sbea and. Bishop Brodie m regard to, the impossibility of the Roman Catholic Church acceptinsr the Marriage Law Amendment Bill.— Press Assn.