THE MARRIAGE ACT

New Zealand Tablet, 5 August 1920, Page 26

THE MARRIAGE ACT

Sir Francis Bell has the reputation of being a man of ability. However that may be, his ill-considered speech with reference to what he himself described as an e.r parte statement (attacking Catholics) will not add to his reputation for good taste. Archbishop O’Shea had good reason to complain that the Catholic authorities were not consulted before the matter was dealt with, and he explains that Catholic marriage laws in no way interfere with’ the civil law. The Catholic Church,, regarding marriage as a sacrament of the New Law, vindicates her right to legislate concerning the conditions lor the valid reception of the sacrament, without in any way presuming to interfere with State regulations concerning the civil recognition of the validity of matrimony contracted in accordance with conditions required by the law of the land.