Divorce Made Easy

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 9

Divorce Made Easy

TWO MARRIAGE CONTRACTS Dean Inge’s Proposals URGES SHORT-TERM FIDELITY VOWS STARTLING and revolutionary ideas ttpon marriage and divorce arc propounded by Dean Inge, who, in his latest books, suggests two marital contracts —one a temporary bond recognised by the State and the second a sacred, lifelong agreement cemented by Church recognition. The Dean would also open wider the door to divorce among “permanent” marriages.

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. Noon. LONDON, Wednesday. Dean Inge proposes startling marriage reform in a book on Christian ethics published today. He suggests that marriages should be of two kinds—one a limited contract for persons who do not recognise life-long vows of fidelity, this to be recognised by the State, and the second a marriage for life, recognised by the Church. “it would be a scandalous and most dishonourable offence to break the latter vow," he

says, “but if two' persons wish a more limited contract, I think the State should recognise their position as something better than mere concubinage.” Whether they should he allowed to be members of the Church raises a difficult question of discipline, but Dean Inge would allow the State to grant divorce for desertion, brutal cruelty, habitual drunkenness, conviction for felony, concealment of bodily mental defects, in addition to misconduct. The Dean adds he believes if Christ faced the hard case of marriage He would have said marriage was made for man and not man made for marriage.