ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

New Zealand Tablet, 23 June 1921, Page 32

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

J. H. O'C. —Historians differ as to the birthplace of St. Patrick. Many hold that he was born in Armoric Gaul, and others that he was born in Scotland, at Dumbarton on Clyde, probably. There is no conclusive evidence one way or other. KihDARE. —Catholics certainly do .regard a marriage between two Presbyterians as a valid marriage in every sense, provided all the essential formalities are fulfilled. You are right in holding that no Catholic can lawfully or validly marry any married person whose • wife (or husband) is still alive. The Catholic Church regards marriage as binding Until death separates the parties. "What God hath joined let no man put asunder," represents the true and only tenable Christian view of marriage. P. J. O'S. (Oamaru).Pleased to hear from you again. Somebody mentioned recently that inquiries had been made in Wellington concerning a teacher of the Gaelic language. I am afraid that there is too little enthusiasm in most places to keep a class going. M. S. A. (Napier).—We decided that it was better postpone our Irish History Competition until after the mid-winter holidays. Father James O'Neill has donated book prizes for this year and we have invited him to set and examine the papers. As the last Competition covered the period between the coming of St. Patrick and the Norman Invasion we take it the next will begin about the twelfth century. In any case there will be ample notice given.