St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-25
PLENARY COUNCIL DEGREES.
The Action Taken at Baltimore in
1854 Made Public.
Full Meaning of Marriage in the
Church.

Church.
BALTIMORE, March 24.-The. DEGREES
enacted by the plenary council held in this
in November. 1884. which were sent TO City
Rome for approval and returned several
months ago, were given to few persons
to-day in printed form. They extend over
400 pages and are in Latin. The Amer
lean will tomorrow publish an extended
summary of them. which was prepared by
one of the leading translatOrs connected
with the the church in this city. The de-
crees are contained under eleven titles.
The opening decree is on faith, followed
by DEGREES on ecclesiastical points, divine
worship. and the sacrament. the education
of the clergy, the instruction of Catholic
youth. Christian doctrine, zeal for souls,
church property, ecclesiastical courts and
ecclesiastical tribunals. There is prefa-
tory eXhOrting all to faithfully observe the
enactmentS OF the second plenary council
of Baltimore, and final title regarding the
PRONUNCIATION and publication of these de-
crees. Many of the DEGREES under the first
three titles will be of little interest to the
public, as they affect the inner workings of
the various diOceses and refer to the relax
ations existing between the bishop and his
clergy. Special enactments are made to
meet all possible contingencies, and these
regulations will largely contribute to place
the diOceses on
a SURE FOOTING.
Some of the regulations are very eloquent
in their expressions on the dignity OF the
clergy. Sanctity and science are to be the
objects of their labors and this is 10 insure
them lasting influence over the flocks en-
trusted to their care. 1t is recommended that
a special house in the charge of some re-
ligious order should be erected for the re-
ception of priests who have been suspended
from the exercise of their functions for Sc
riOus faults, yet give hopes of correcting
their vicious inclinations. that they may
have an opportunity of regaining their lost
privileges. One of the most important de-
crees is that concerning matri-
mOny. 1t holds that since marriage
was raised to the dignity of sacrament it
belongs solely to the church, to whom the
administration of the sacrament was in
trusted to pass judgement on the validity,
rights and obligations of marriage. This
being the case, and the marriage tie being
indissoluble, it is obvious that there is no
power Oh earth which can dissolve Chris
tian marriage. Against such as infringe
these laws severe penalties are to be en-
forced. No legal divorce has the slightest
power before God to loose the bond of mar
riage and make subsequent one valid.
Even adultery, though it may justify
separation from bed and board" cannot
loose
THE MARRIAGE TIE
So that either party may marry again dur
ing the life of the other, nor is the legal
separation to be obtained without first con-
ferring with the eccleSiastic authorities.
Though the church sometimes permits the
marriage of Catholic to a non-Catholic,
she never does so without the deepest re-
gret and with the explicit understanding
that the children of those parties must be
brought up in the Catholic faith. Regard
ing the instruction of the city, the council
DEGREES that since religion can never
be divorced from our actions there is need
of erecting everywhere parish schools which
may so temper religion with science that
the two may 90 hand in hand. To effect
this the council orders that within two
years from the PRONUNCIATION Of these de-
crees a parochial school must be erected
and started near each church, unless the
bishop for grave reasons, should defer for
a time the building of such a school.
Should priest by his own negligence pre-
vent the successful carrying on of such
schools, he is to be judged worthy of re-
moval. All Catholic parents are bound to
send their children to these parochial
schools unless they send them to other
Catholic academies or are lawfully exempted
by those who have charge of these
affairs. The S.000,000 of colored people
in the country are the subject of gener-
Gus plea for help from all those who would
tNlo ipnA NJ ola of
in place to act for the veal of the repub-
lie. The Indian tribes have also been con-
sidered and arrangements have been made
for special yearly collections to be taken up
in all churches throughout the country TO
help promote Catholicism among the col
ored people and Indian tribes. Special con-
siderarion, is devoted to work of the laity
and their combination in associations for
the better realization of their works, but all
must be mindful of the fact that
THE LAITY
are members of the body of Christ, and that
their legitimate action and work as Chris
tians must be in entire uniformity with
their lawful head. All secret societ les
which are secret. as the church understands
the term, such as Masonic lodges and other
similar fraternities, are not to be joined by
Catholics. Not only are snch societies to
be Stunned, but all requested 10 cooperate
as earnestly as possible in the work of those
societies which.are acting in all things ac-
cording to the spirit of the
church. The DEGREES about the
collecting of money for pious
purposes will doubtless surprise most peo-
pie for the decisions are explicitly con-
demnatory of many methods now i'm vogue.
The council directs the pastors to have in
every church free space and admonishes
them from humiliating people in public if
they do not exactly keep within the limits
of that space. The council also orders that
no clergyman shall ever prosecute layman
for money due 10 the church, even for pew
rent, unless he had asked leave from the
bishops. Another thing done by the coun-
Gil is the prohibition of picnics and eX-
curslons by night or Sunday or on other
feast days or fasting days. This way of
making money for church purposes will be
hereafter forbidden and only allowed by the
bishop, with necessary prudence and re-
serve. The sale of Intoxicating liquors will
not be allowed in any case. Fairs are not
to be held without special permit from the
bishop. and not on SUNDAYS, and no intoxi-
eating liquors can be sold by them. Suppers
and dinners, social parties and balls given
at night for raising money are prohibited