Catholic Attitude to Mixed Marriages

Chronicle (Levin), 9 March 1948, Page 3

Catholic Attitude to Mixed Marriages

' . AUCKLAND, Marph 8; The attitude of the Rpman Catholic Church to mixed marriages ivas defined by the Most' Rev, DrtListon, the Roman Catholre Bishopk olj . /Auckland, who stated:k^ >. \ ./ * *- . , ' ' The\.Roman Gatholic " Church, . while respectipg jion-Ca(f holi.es, Uoes not favour marriages between them and Catholics, becau'se she knows- from experieneo that too often they disturb the peace of tlie home. and lead to neglect and even the abanddnment of religious belief and practice by the husband, wife and children. In eacli case, therefore, dispensation must be sought by a Catholic from his or her Bishop, and a justifying reason for it offered. ' ' If the Pope was approaehed directly, he would . seek the inf ormation from the Bishop eoncerned. There were. the laws of the Chureh in the matter binding the Pope and Bishop in eonseience, and one of these was that both parties must .promise seriously to have all their children baptised and brought up in the Roman Catholie Church. That was ' the law, and no eompromises and adjustments were. possible. / "The non-Catholie does not propose the terms, and Princess Anae of Boui»-bon-Parma and King Michael, lik'e everyone else, must make this indispensable promise," Dr. Liston added. "Tlx'e Catholie .mother of the' Princess could not possibly prppdse,. as the cablegram reports her doing, that the Pope should allow thd children of this projeetecl marriage to be brought np i'- the Greek vOrthodox Church."