“Whom God Hath Joined Together—”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 1

“Whom God Hath Joined Together—”

BISHOP ON DIVORCE ROMAN CATHOLIC VIEW God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” The Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland, Dr. Liston, explained the Roman Catholic view of divorce in the course of his sermon at St. Benedict's yesterday. The bishop made particular reference to the celebrated Marconi divorce case. The Kota, the highest matrimonial court of his Church, explained the bishop, in its full decision gave the facts as under: In 1903 Signor Marconi, baptised a Catholic but brought up a Protestant, asked Miss Beatrice O’Brien, a Protestant, daughter of the fourteenth Baron Inchiquin, to become his wife. After many difficulties raised by Ivliss O’Brien and her mother, the wedding was celebrated at St. Cleorge’s, Hanover Square. The parties separated in 1918 and were divorced in 1924. Recently Signor Marconi asked the Matrimonial Court in Rome to inquire into the validity of the marriage. According to the sworn evidence submitted to the Roman Court, Bishop Liston went on to explain, Lady Inchiquin felt that the difference of nationality—ltalian and Irish—would not make for happiness. She was of the firm opinion that her daughter did not love Signor Marconi sufficiently to tie herself to him for life. Further, the mother insisted that as she had seen many marriages Prove failures she did not believe that they should be indissoluble, and she would not give her consent to the marriage if it were to be for life. This viewpoint was specially pressed upon Signor Marconi. DISTINCT CONDITIONS An agreement was reached with Signor Marconi. The marriage was contracted upon the distinct condition that either husband or wife could sue for divorce if their married life became intolerable. This understanding was made not only with the bride, but also with her mother and family. It was never revoked at any subsequent period. Bishop Liston said that the law in such a case was clear. A marriage contract was null and void, was no marriage at all, if it was entered into upon some condition or agreement that struck at the very substance of matrimony. Miss O'Brien made this distinct stipulation, and Signor Marconi accepted: “I will marry you but' on condition that you or I can have our marriage dissolved by divorce if we wish. “The Catholic Church refuses to call such a contract a Christian marriage contract. It may be something else, but it is not the union for life which Christ raised to the dignity of a sacrament. IF BLESSED BY POPE It was important to note, the bishop asserted, that the decision of the court in this case would have been just the same if both Marconi and Beatrice O’Brien had been Catholics and had their marriage ceremony blessed by the Pope. The contract was the essence of the thing. “As the marriage ceremony of 1903 did not result in a true marriage, both parties to it are free to marry now,” he said. “A few years ago the Rota declared for the validity of the marriage between Count Castellane, a member of a great Italian Catholic family, and the American, Miss Gould, a Protestant and a multi-millionairess. She claimed that she meant her marriage to be dissoluble by divorce, and adduced considerable evidence, but the court finally ruled it insufficient. “Similarly, within the past year, Prince Henry of PI ess failed to show the Roman Court by convincing evidence that his marriage was null and void.