Connecticut western news., 1883-10-17
ABOUT MIXED MARRIAGES.
CRUCIAL QUESTIONS DISCUSSED BY
 THE LATE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
The Bishops Power of ssDispensa tiOns''- Interesting Interview with One of the Members Of the Council.

The joint pastoral letter of the Cardi- nal, archbishop and bishops of the late 1 Provincial Council has called forth gen. eral comment and awakened animated | discussion among all classes of persons, especially in it's decisions on matters that may affect non- Catholics as we'll as Catholics, such as the decisions relating to marriage, divorce, education and se- cret societies. With view of elucidat- ing more fully some of these points New York Herald reporter called on 8 member of the Council who attended I all the sessions and who was by nature of his office familiar with every detail of the business transacted by the Council.
 ,"I am glad to learn that the pastoral has provoked public discussion, he said, ''for of course, to certain extent, it was intended to do that, although its provisions apply strictly to the Catho- lies of the province. I thought the pas toral sufficiently full and explicit on the matters you mention," he added, in re- sponse to the reporters inquiries.
 "There is really nothing so wonder fully new in it. It simply reaffirms and emphasizes for the most part matters of Catholic doctrine and discipline that may be said to be as old as the Church. About the Councils decision on mar riage? Well, now, the pastoral seems to me very clear and full on that point Marriage is a divine institution, and the Catholic Church under no circumstances whatever permits the sacred contract to be broken"
 "Is there no such thing as separation between husband and wife recognized in the Catholic Church?"
 Preparation, yes, for the gravest rea- sons and under restrictions that do not admit of the remarriage of either of the parties to the original contract while both are living. But divorce in the sense generally accepted, never. Rather than permit divorce the Church let Eng land separate from the Holy See. The same question was raised by the first
 
 by the Pope. You will find that if any thing bearing the appearance of divorce has been allowed in the Catholic Church 1t has always been case where the most careful investigation showed that the marriage was originally invalid" 'sThen there are such things as in valid marriages ?''
 Certainly, and even with all the care that the Church exercises over marriages | they sometimes occur. The conditions | that render marriage invalid are clearly laid down and defined in canon law. The impediments to the validity of mar riage are of various kinds and some of them very intricate ill character. It is to guard against these impediments that | the Council insists for the future on the publication of the banns of matrimony that is to say, the announcement from the altar of the names of the parties to be married, on three Sundays previous to the wedding"
 "Why is this public announcement made ?"
 "As protection to both parties. The contracting parties, one or both, are generally known in the parish. Their names are read out Sunday after Sunday in the presence of thousands of persons. Any one of those persons who hears the announcement and knows of lawful impediment to the marriage is bound, under pain of mortal sin, to make known the impediment to the priest
 "Can there be no exception in the future to the publication of the banns il the churches p
 "As the pastoral says, for the gravest reasons the publication of the banns may be dispensed with by permission. Such reasons and exceptions are laid down 1T canon law
 s And what of mixed marriages ?'
 Mixed marriages are marriages be
 tween Catholics and non- Catholics. Int word that the Church applies to sucl marriages is 'abhorrent-it abhors them
 and for the sake of husband and wife as
 well as of their family. Difference O
 religion is cause of disunion at the out
 set. The husband goes to one church
 the wife to another, or one or other l, perhaps finally both, to no church at all
 The children grow up and see their par ents divided on this most vital point They are perplexed and generally be come indifferent about all religious mat ters."
 s'Does the Catholic Church allow suc] marriages ?''
 ''She condemns them. Of cours such marriages take place at times; bu they cannot be celebrated in @ Catholi church, or with the nuptial mass an :, benediction. The priest simply assist and witnesses the ceremony. He is nc permitted even to wear his surplice. Tn marriage, however, is valid, provide | the proper dispensation has been ot tained beforehand.
 "Does the Catholic Church exact an , promise from either of the contractin j parties ?'
 ''Yes, when the arrangements for tn
 marriage are being made the priest e,
 acts promise from the non-Catholi - party that the offspring shall all b l. brought up in the Catholic faith e ''Does the Catholic Church recogniz |, the validity of marriages between nol s Catholics ?''
 U "The Catholic Church recognizes th s validity of marriages between all bal n tized persons, provided there has bee II no impediment of consanguinity or oth'