THE NE TEMERE DEGREE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10310, 10 August 1911, Page 5

THE NE TEMERE DEGREE.

AND THE WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY.

"AN AGAINST GOD."

At the .meeting of the "W-eHdTJi.sjtom Presibytery, the Rev. .J. Gibson Smith moved:— "That the Breiabyitery of Wellington, JravSing had its attention directed to tine Ne Teuneira decree of the (Roman Oaifcboli'C Church, wJiereby the presence' of a. Bosnian Catholic priest is, affirmed <to be easeimtiial to- the validity of a- marriage • betweenr a Roman. Catholic and a nonJEtoniam. Catholic, declares as follows: That wQiaile <recogjni'siing the. right and duty of ©very Ohraatian Churcih to refuse to 'lend its •sanction (to .mamages wMoh are forbidden 'by the law of God, ievien. .though (SUioli .niia.nnia.ges should foe leg'aliiised by the State, the Presbytery declares its 'conviction that It'be type of marriage pronounieed as "being null and void in this decree, is not in reality forbidden: by any Divin© law, and jnainitaiins .that all condemnatioh of the validity of .such anaTni'ages a© an- offenico against God. The Presbytary also calls attention to thie fia«t that Ithe very sani© marriages wlhi/db the. Papal See declare to ib'e null and void en the BtritAsdi Empire a.r© hy the Papal See Ixeld to be valid m, itibe Empire of Germany, amd declares that a® long as rttes istatbe of affadirs amitimMes it is lirmpossiiblo to credit f£he Papal authorities with sincerity in (regard to Wtois matter. The Prcislbytery further points out that mo declaration! of nullity by the Papal authoriitfiies 'has the slightest effect ■upon the validity of such marriages in the isight of the law of New Zealand, ia.nd that since recognition of the Ne. Temere decree by Protestants eonitemiplatiing marriage with Catholics would .involve for the Protestants a base and ignoble' .surrender of their religious right®, therefor© the only honourable course left open for sruch Protestants is either to abstain from nuairraiage with Catholics, or e'cc to ■treat tih& Ne Temere decree as nan■exnstent.' " ißev. J. McOaw seconded ihe motion, and. it was carried unanvr4us