THE MARRIAGE LAWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 301, 14 September 1920, Page 4

THE MARRIAGE LAWS

STATEMENTS BY CATHOLIC BISHOPS. By Telegraph—Press Association Christchurch, September 13. In making a statement at St. ilary's Cathedral yc6teruay on tlio 'projected amendment to the marriage legislation of New Zealand, Bishop Brodie said: "In tho event of this proposed legislation coming into eltect there will be oii.y one course open to ine. I will not swerve one luur's-breadth from the doctrine or discipline of our Hoiy Church, but as soon as possible, should this amendment becomo law, I will publish and cause to be published in every Catholic church of the diocese the teachings of tho Church regarding the Sacrament of Matrimony, and in my administration will see that that teaching i 6 strictly adhered to. If a prosecution follows I will .defend Myself, even appealing to the highest tribunal of the Empire. If judgment goes against me, I must only, with tho heip of God, try to bear tho punishment of imprisonment, being clad to suffer something for justice's sake, but grieved to th ; nk that our fair Dominion of New Zealand is the osly part of the vast Empire or' even of the known ■world where such legislation has been introduced. In this anxious crisis I appeal to my people for their prayers that their Bishop and priests will be faithful to their uacred trust, and that our- legislators will approach consideration of this Momentous! question in the spirit of justice aud true statesmanship.' Auckland, 'September 13. Bishop Cleary, in an interview, saii that a statement ho intends to publish shortly relates to the application of the Marriage Laws Amendment Bill .if it passes in its present form, to the doctrines of the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other Churches in their official formulas or laws and in declarations by their divines. Bishop Cleary remarked that the views expressed on tho legal position by counsel in Wellim*ton were confirmed by the opinion of eminent counsel in Auckland whom l.e had consulted. "According to the' opinions thus expressed," he eoid, "one curious and probably unexpected result of this proposed legislation would be he placing of a ban upon the Bible and its distribution in this Dominion, inasmuch as a considerable series of extracts contained in the sacred volume would, Vth directly and by implication, come under the penalties, with fine and imprisonment, set forth in sub-clauses (1) and (2) of the Bill. For the same- reason the use of the. nuotations in question by preachers or others in course of religious services would render them liable to similar pains end penalties." Bishop Cleary said he was in entire agreement with the statements made by Archbishop O'Shea and Bishop Brodie in regard to the impossibility of the Roman Catholic Church accepting the Marriage Laws Amendment Bill. CATHOLIC FEDERATION PROTEST. The followin" motion was unanimously carried at a special meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand CatHilic Federation held last evening:—

"The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Catholic Federation hereby records ilfl emphatic protest against the clause inserted in the Marriage Bill by the Legislative Council, seeintr that according to the Ixst lesral auttbritv this amendment "would penalise the Church for teaching her doctrine on sacranienli nf matrimony. It offers its loyal supwirt. I'" the Archhishon and Bisbips nf New Zealand in the stand they ar« taking to resist what, would be an unwarranted anil tyrannical interference with reUuions liberty on the part of the State. It calls upon all Catholics tlilroupnout the Dominion to voice their protest against such an outrage."