DIVORCE LAWS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19899, 30 May 1936, Page 7

DIVORCE LAWS.

Biz-MARRIAGE QUESTION. CASES OF GLIROY CITED. i CONVOCATION PERTUHBED. United Press Mam-Elev. Tel. Copyright. Received May 30. 11.5 am.) LONDON, May ‘29. Cries of "shame" came from the members of the Lower House of convocation when Archdeacon Dudley re—ferred to a clergyman who became the third husband of a woman whose first husband was living, the marriage being conducted with the diocesan bishop‘s approval and blessing, and was celebrated by a prominent canon. ‘He also referred to a clergyman who divorced his Wife owing to adultery, but re—married, after which he was promptly given a better hving. This statement was received with further shouts of “shame." The ‘House was discussing a motion demanding that re-married divorced people should not be admitted to the sacraments except on church condi—ticns. 'Canon Scott—Moncriefl', contended that. the suggestion that the sacraments should he refused was because divorce and re-marriage of divorced people was opposed to the \\‘ill of God. Nevertheless, soldiers were not ex—communicated, despite the fact that war is against ‘God‘s will. He added that a man marrying a divorcee needed grace to make a good second marriase. The Dean of Lincoln declared that he would make adultery a criminal offence with a penalty of a year‘s hard labour, but would not excommunicate the offender. When an amendment was moved suggesting that the sacraments should be withheld from divorced people while second marriage relations continued, the Dean of Lincoln said it was otter—im; an inducement for a. man to desert his wife and children in order to receive the communion. The amendment was defeated, and the debate adjourned.