MIXED MARRIAGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 962, 4 March 1911, Page 3

MIXED MARRIAGES.

THE PAPAL DEGREE IN BRITAIN. London, March 1. In the House ot Lords, at the instance of Lord Donoughmore, a debate took place on the Papal Decree regarding mixed marriages and also on the case of Mrs McCann, whose children, it was alleged, were taken away because she refused to be re-married in a Catholic church when a priest alleged that her offspring were illegitimate. Lord Liverpool stated that Archbishop Bourne, Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, had explained that the Decree was not intended to interfere with the civil law.

The Bishop of Bristol, Dr Browne, pointed out that the Decree was inoperative in Germany. He held that the Government should insist upon the exemption of Protestants. Lord Crewe said he was unable to definitely answer whether it would be possible to approach the Vatican on the subject. The priests ought to make the civil side of the law clear. If McCann had been guilty of a criminal offence every effort would be made to effect his arrest.

The Church Chronicle writing in reference to the above subject, says: ‘‘The recent papal decree affirming the nullity of marriages between Romanists and persons of other denominations unless solemnised by a Roman priest, is producing the mischief which might have been expected from it ; and its amazing insolence has been lorced upon the public attention by a case in Belfast, in which, a Romanist husband has left his Presbyterian wife, and refuses to recognise the marriage as binding upon him because it did not take place in a Roman church. Public meetings are to be held to discuss the matter, and at one of these, held at the large Assembly Hall, Belfast, the hall was crowded, and hundreds of people were unable to obtain admission. The first resolution was moved by the 1 town, urging the Government to provide such legislation as will give the wife in such a case a summary redress.”