THE MARRIAGE LAWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15319, 15 September 1920, Page 3

THE MARRIAGE LAWS.

— - ■ , <> WELLINGTON, last night, lho Rev. Howard Elliott anadie a statement to-riight on the pronouncements wliich have been macle by Archbishop O'Shea and Bishops Cleary and Brodie respecting the amend/nents "to the Marriage Act.' -'They are," ho said, "remarkable m their ingenuity m avoiding the real point at issue m the proposed legislation. The prelates named would make it appear tl*t the aim of the clause referred 1 to is to ' interfere with the religious liberty of Roman Catholics and to make it an offence for members of that denomination to hold or proclaim marriage as • a sacrament, whereas the clause, ■•whilst permitting the fullest legitimate liberty, proposes to make it an offence to allege either expressly or. by implication that any persons lawfully married are not truly and- sufficiently married', or that the Lssue of any lawful marriage is illegitimate or born out of true wedlock. The Roman. Catholic Church has so alleged m the Pink Catechism and m approved, publications. No church or person can claim th© right to make such an allegation. To do so is an insufferable infringement of civil rights and the religious .liberty of others. The proposed legislation «will vindicate the supremacy of British law, protect the rights of citizens, and guard children against tbe stigma of being branded illegitimate, and, m co doing, will have the hearty support of every liberty-loving Britisher. Great wrongs will be corrected by the passing of this legislation, and the threats of the Bishops are .not likely to affect the minds of legislators now that the evidence has convinced one of the strongest and most representative committees m Parliament of the necessity for such legislation. Neither is it likely that the. -purpose, of the legislation will be defeated by* the introduction of words which would "destroy the working of the measure." — Press Assn. WELLINGTON, this day. A resolution was moved at a meeting, of the Wellington Presbytery to put on record the' hearty approval of the proposed amendment of the Marriage Act, and hoping that it will be passed without alteration. Some doubt was expressed as to the exact, meaning of the clause, and a certain amount of opposition was offered. Mr. Comrie said that the Roman Catholic Church should^ not have the right to impugn the validity of marriage, but he wanted to be sure ' of the real interpretation of the clause. Ultimately a committee was appointed to obtain further information and the matter was adjourned. — Press Assn.