CHURCH AND STATE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13458, 2 July 1912, Page 5

CHURCH AND STATE.

NORWICH COMMUNION CASE

VIEWS OF THE BISHOP OF

OXFORD

(Received July 1, 9.5 p.m.)

London, July 1

The Bishop of Oxford, in a letter discussing the Banister—Thompson caE< v j says : i'jje Church law treats marriage with a deceased wife's sister* as incestuous. Canon 109 requires the clergy to refuse Communion to those contracting it, and since the power to determine the condition of Communion belongs to the Church alone, it is our duty to abide by the principle and face th© conseauences,"

Mr Banister, a parishioner at Eaton, in the diocese of Norwich, married his deceased wife's sister in Canada just before the Royal Assent was given to the Deceased Wife's Sister Act. When he and his wife returned homo Canon Thompson, the vicar of Eaton, refused to admit them to Holy Communion. The matter came before the Court of Arches and Canon Thompson was admonished not to repeat his conduct. In order to bring the matter before the Civil Courts Canon Thompson then obtained a rule nisi against the Dean of Arches, but a majority of the Divisional Court which heard the rule decided against him. The Court of Appeal affirmed this decision, and Canon Thompson then appealed to the House of Lords, which gave judgment againsfhim a. few days ago.