The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-02
fi,333 9sli4 81 ftkf!s53 fFfEff = J
Love VS. KCltvSUs,.
THE CATHOLICS AND THE MIXED MARRIAGE

THE sCATHoblCs AND THE MIXED MARRIAGE
as QUESTION. !, {, i .,...3,3
Itiswell known that the Catholic Church
as Rev. Father Starr, OF the Cathedral re
Gently said, has always opposed and legisla.
ted against the marriage OF members OF its
faith with those OF any one OF the Protestant
denominations, because, as the reverend
gentleman argued, these mixed marriages
were productive or so much unbappiness
and loss OF faith. 1t is not, however, SO
we'll known that in the Archdiocese OF Balti-
more for the last few months the most
stringent measures have been enforced to
prevent these marriages. These measures
include the refusal OF absolution to any
Catholic young man who visits 4 Protest
ant lady with view to matrimony, and to
any Catholic lady who receives the visits OF
a Protestant with the same end in view, and
also the refusal OF the Catholic clergy to off,
ciatc at the marriage OF n Catholic and Pro-
testant. TO thorough Catholic, dissolution,
in his or her estimation, is as necessary to
spiritual welfare rs food is to bodily
strength, and every Catholic, With but few
exceptions, whether lukewarm or thorough
in the practice of his or her religion, will
always insist on being married by Catho.
lie priest, even in cases where the ceremony
is also performed at the request OF the Pro-
tcstant party by a Protestant clergyman. 1t
will thus be seen that although the course
Of true love may never have run smooth
either fer Protestant or Catholic, yet
the Catholic in this Archdiocese who
is so fortunate, or unfortunate, as
his or her after experience may prove,
as to fall in love with Protestant, has more
obstacles to encounter than ever. The OBJ
ject OF Most Rev. Archbishop Bayley is, Of
course, to prevent these mixed marriages,
but this object is not always accomplished.
About year ago a well-known physician,
a member OF the Episcopal Church, met
and fell in love with lady, 4 Catholic, who
worshipped mt the Cathedral. The attach
ment soon became mutual, and, as natural
consequence, the parties were shortly after
wards engaged. The lady belongs to highly
esteemed Catholic family Of Baltimore, had
been member of the Sanctuary Society OF
the Cathedral for a number OF years. and
altogether was strict and consistent Catho-
lie. Her uncle is leading Catholic priest
in Washington. 1t so happened that
the new regulations regarding mixed
marriages went into effect before the
day on which the marriage Of this lady and
gentleman was to take place. The lady was
very much worried, and applied to- 4 num-
be- of Catholic priests, who all refused to
otficate at the ceremony: The intimation
that in case OF their persistent refusal the
marriage would be performed by u Protest
ant clergyman had no effect, as it might
have once had. Love. ut last triumphed
over their religious scruples, and the lady
and gentleman referred to were few days
ago married by Rev. DR.. Rankin, rector of
St. Luke's Episcopal church. This act so
far rs the lady was concerned, was virtual
severance of her connection with the Cath
Ollie Church, and che marriage, with several
others between Catholics and Professionals,
have convinced some Of the Catholic priests,
at least, that the cure is worse than the dis
ease.-Baltimore 4Enericdn, January 1s5-