The morning call., 1893-02-27
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MhTT N y haze preafPeN righteousness in rhe
IIMHk# 9reat Congregation
nreat CONGREGATION

marriages which are absolutely not recog-
nized by the church. and are null aud void
hey ond remedy.
I'VE have delaying obstacles applicable
In cases where time alone is needed 10 re-
move all objections.
Examples of this kind are the laws
which prohibit marriage during certain
periods of the year. such as the Lenten sea-
son or others.
"rhen there are TIE cases in which pre-
yious engagements have been made and are
about to be broken. These matters must
be first arranged. and the church Will not
allow people TO marry until they are ADJ
solved from ali promises OF that kind.
MIXED marriages, such as the union OF a
Catholic with Protestant. are also prohib-
tied.
Another kind Of marriage which is OBJ
iected 10 by us is the too frequent forced
marriage. where parents force their chill
dren to marry against the laiter's VIII.
The church recognizes no separation
after marriage except such as Is maze Dy
death. Therefore If divorced man or
woman marres again the church considers
their union as unholy and guilty.
people of this class are bigamists, and
neither Pope, Bishop or priest can ever
legaliZe their second marriage by diSpensa-
ton.
mo person who has taken spiritual vows
can legally marry according TO the Catholic
d..
secrated to God and they have no right to
form earthly ties.
zone of this latter kind of marriages was
that of Martin Luther.
"Non-baptism and blood relation are two
other obstacles. and so is spiritual relation.
by the latter / mean that family ties
may exist between the godfather Of child
and the family to which the child belongs.
or between the brOther-iE-law and the
family into which his sister or brother has
married.
Secret marriages or such unions as are
formed without the assistance OF The church
are also prohibited.
''No marriage is legalized il not contract
ed according TO the Catholic ritual and
through the medium Of a Catholic priest.
This ecclesiastical law conflicts with the
secular law, but in all such States In which
due publicity of. it has been given by the
Bishops, as is the case in California, the
church demands compliance. and in cases
OF mixed marriages the Catholic party is
accommodated If the ceremony is not per-
formed by Catholic priest.
II wish to call particular attention to this
because the cases in which careless young
people neglect TO obey this law are alarm
inely frequent.
Let all young people take warning, and
let all parents admonish their children so
that they may know that the Lo:d will
surely punish those who contract marriages
not properly cousecrated by the church.
Now, l want 10 say a few words with
reference to unhOly and unlawful marriages
performed in the past.
"Of course what has been done cannot be
undone. But there is remedy in all cases
except where divorced people have remar-
rled, because all other unions can be legal
lied. II the right steps are taken absO-
luton will be granted TO those WHO peni-
tently and in the proper spirit ask for it.
I'm conclusion | shall ask you to join me
in a prayer that the abominable PRACTICE Of
divorce countenanced by the secular laws
may become less prevalent every day.
When this comes 10 pass domestic unhap-
piness will no longer be as frequent as 1t Is
to-day, there VIII no longer be wrecked
families, the newspapers viii not tell you
daily of new scandals, and the standard of
morality will be elevated as it ought to be-"