Father Heaneberry on Mixed Marriages.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2841, 23 March 1878, Page 2

Father Heaneberry on Mixed Marriages.

The lelcfcrams which we (Herald) published 011 YYednesdny on this subject, and tho remarks we felt constrained to make, have excited no little attention in Auckland. Evory expression of opinion, both from Catholics and Protestants, is strongly aga'nst Father Hcuneberry, and it is, perhaps, not to be wondered at, that some should bo incredulous, and should think it impossible that a Catholic priest should denounce lawfulmarriage as adulterous, and should consider those Catholics who have entered into niarriago in a manner at once honorable, and in strict accord with the law of the land. Biahop Moron's letter oh the subject, which wo published yesterday, must be taken. to mean this: That if Father Henneberry did denounce marriages that are lawful, the Bishop emphatically repudiates his teaching, and declares that it is not the teaching of the Church of Home. The following telegram on the subject is from a gentleman in Xumara in a position to know the facts:—The words used by Father Henncberrj were::— ■' Any Catholic marrying a non-Catholic without a dispensation from the Catholic Church, and dying in that state, goes straight to hell." The Kumara limes bad a strongly worded leader directed against sectarian agitators generally, in which these words were used: "Whose prophets are charlatans and mountebanks, whose victims are the weak-minded. The article concluded, by calling on all right thinking men to mark with stern disapprobation the promulgation of a doctrine that seeks to stump the wives of many of their own number with the brand of shame, and would send their children into the world to be pointed at as bastards. Father Henneberry replied in a speech designating the editor by name, and saying, "I give him '18 hours to re:ract.. If he does not do so, you are Irishmen, and know what to do !" The 1 ditor replied, "We hare nothing to retract, and nothing to fear." The feeling here is very strong, but the Catholics are in a hopeless minority. It is considered advisable, however, to extend police protection to the office of the Times and private residence of the editor. The words amongst others for which an action is being brought against Father Henneberry are ;—" He (the editor) should have been in gaol long ago, and I could go to the sheriff and hare him in gaol in ten minutes." The Kumara Times' circulation has greatly increased, and many, demonstrations of approval havo been made to the proprietors and tbe editor. It is thought that if Father Henneberiy goes to Greymouth, where the feeling is intense, there may be a disturbance. The following is tho Press Agency's telegram:—Father Hcnncbcrry's remarks from the altar respecting mixed marriages and other matters dealt with by him during his mission, arc causing a great deal of ill-feeling between Catholics and Protestants. The Itcv. G. W. ltussell has written a long letter to the Hokitika Star on the subject, refuting the letter of Father Martin, which previously appeared. Mr liussell was present, and quotes Father.Henneberry'■ remarks as follows: —" Any marriage celebrated by a non-Catho'ic between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, is null and void, and a marriage by a Registrar was no marriage at at all; and any Catholic marrying a non-Catholic, without a dispensation from the Catholic Church, and dying in that state, would go straight to hell." The Eer. Mr Russell adds to this: "I am prepared to take an oath that those words were used, and numbers I could mention would do the same." It is very much to be regretted .that a matter in which the social relations of Protestants and Catholics are so intimately bound up should hare been made the subject of any public remarks calculated to excite feelings of religious animosity., The distinction which Father Henneberry draws between the marriages celebrated with and without a dispensation from tho Church, is one unknown to the law; and whatever punishment he may promise offenders against the rules of the Church, in the world to come, he may rest assured that any reflections upon the honor of any members of the community, no matter what their religon, W'U be quickly resented."

Bishop Moran will see, therefore, that Father Henneberry's language is eren worse than at first represented, and he will, therefore, have no course open to him other than to repudiate his doctrine, and to prevent him, as we suppose he has the power, front coming to this district Then, we put it to the Bishop to express his opinion on Father Henneberry'n at* tempt to incite the Irish Catholics of Kumara to violence. Suppose they, had taken,his advice,l,or suppose they still take it, and that'the editor should be killed, of what crime would this priest be guilty ? We hope, for his own sake, that he will be unsuccessful in his efforts.

The subject is exciting attention all over the colony. Our own correspondent nt Dunedin telegraphs last night 'as follows:—The following extra was issued to-day by the Tablet:—"lt is hardly necessary for us to inform Catholic friends that it is impossible Father Henneberry can hare made the statement attributed to him by the Hokitika Star and the Kumara Times, for they are already aware no Catholic priest could brand mixed marriages as invalid, now matter how contracted. We think it as well to say, howerer, that we hare received a telegram from Kumara, by which we arc informed the statement is contradicted by Father Martin, of Hokitika, and the whole Catholic congregation. The statement is a pure fabrication." The news of Father Henneberry's inflammatory speeches has caused a powerful sensation, and his name is already beginning to stink in the nostrils of the'more enlightened of his co-reli-gionists. A Boman Catholic, writing to oue of the papers, says:—" Thank God we hare few Henneberry's. This man has dared to call mixed marriages adultery, and I fear with too much success to raise the demon of religious' discord in the midst of a community where before all was. peace, and the wolf in sheep's clothing calls himself a servant of the great Master who preached good will to all men." Notwithstanding the Tablet's disclaimer, it is a fact only too well authenticated that Father Henneberry said, when in Dunedin, that mixed marriage was adultery.—[Some further developments on this matter appear in our tele* graphic columns.—Ed.]