The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-04
>-ARRnAaE1 IN CHILL.
Serious Obstruction Placed in tn. way Of
Lovers by tho Clurch-The Liberals
Would Enforce tho Civil Marriage Act.

sorious Obstruction Placed In the Way Of
Lovers by tho Church-The Liberals
Would Enforce tho Civil Marriage Act.
Itiormerly cost $25 to be married by the
church and large part OF it's revenues
came from that source, says the Santiago
correspondent Of the Chicago Tribune. The
poems, who scarcely ever arc able to ac-
cumulate SO much money, therefore lived
in q state Of concubinage, and more than
half the children born in Chill were ille-
gitimate. Now marriage certificate can be
secured from civil magistrate for 25
cents, and persons cohabiting without it
are subject to fine andimpris onment. Tho
archbishop has issued u decree cxcommu.
nicating from the church all persons who
are married by the civil ritc, and the Cath
olics OF the country, comprising 90 per
cent. Of the population, are in u serious di-
iemma. They are compelled to choose be-
tween accommodation. and ,imprison.
nent, therefore, in the upper classes,
weddings are no longer fashiona BILE
Soiue people go first to the church
and then to the magistrate, and run the
risk OF communication but; the more
conscientious prefer to remain single.
/ just now in Santiago there is a young man
OF brilliant attainments, u member OF con.
gress, and u leader OF the Liberal party who
wants to marry the daughter OF u pronli-
nent merchant. The engagement has been
existing for several years, and both parties
are willing to fulfill it according to civil
law, but the girls mother is IL devout Cath
olic, and cannot be convinced that a wedding
| without the blessing OF n priest is matri.
mony. The young man will go to the church
gs well as to the magistrate, but the arch
bishop has forbidden any priest to marry
I, l,s IL.
political record. This he refuses to make,
and the couple arc preparing to go to the
United States or some European country
to have the ceremony performed.
A few weeks ago there was a marriage in
high life in one Of the south provinces Of
Chill, which attracted wide attention from
the TACT that it was the first definance Of
the church in that part OF the country.
The Sunday following the parties were de-
nounccd from the pulpit Of the cathedral
by the bishop, and the Catholic newspaper
publsed some very brutal comments to
the effect that the youngcouplc had placed
themselves on the level Of beasts by CO.
habitiDg without the blessing Of the church.
The BRIDES brother hammered the editor
SO that lie will be IL cripple for life, and
would have given the bishop u similar
cliastisemcnt had not the latter kept out
OF the way.
At the next presidential election, which
occurs next spring, tho issue will be the en-
iorcement of the civil marriage law, and
il the Liberal party is successful, as it un-
doubtctlly will be, some measures will be
taken to reduce the church to subjection,
and n law has already been proposed to ex-
pei from the country priests who intimi-
date citizens from obcying the civil mar
riage act. This will be open war and priests
who threaten to cxcommunicate will he
sent to exile, where they will shortly be fol.
lowed by the monks and nuns, and gell-
cral confiscation Of church property will
be the next step. 1t is estimated that one
third OF the entire property in Chill is
owned by the church,