The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-06

Somewhat of a social sensation was caused
in st. Louis recently by the refusal of the
pastor of a Baptist church to recognize as
a member woman who had been married
to divorced man. In this case, as the
other than scriptural grounds, the pastor
and deacons held that she was not the true
wife of the man. This raised the question,
first, whether under the rules of the Bap-
fist Church. they had a right to take this
position, and, second, whether divorce
decree of civil court was not as binding
on law-abiding citizens any other decree
The latter question is the broader of the
two AS a general rule in matters of public
policy and temporal affairs generally the
authority of the state is superior to that
of the church. Laws OF general application
must be obeyed by church people and &C.
clesiastics the same by other persons,
irrespective of the laws or doctrines of the
church. The same is true of DEGREES and
judgments of the courts The law regards
marriage not as a sacrament, but as a civil
contract. 1t prescribes the conditions and
regulates the manner in which the con-
under which it may be annulled, and upon
the showing of proper cause and complying
with certain conditions as to residence,
publication, etc, the court will annul the
contract. So far as the parties themselves
are concerned and for all civil purposes in
their relations TO other people, such de-
cree is binding, and it is beyond the power
or authority of any church to modify the
legal effect of the decree. The Journal is
not now discussing state laws on the sub
ject, nor the prevailing practice, both OF
which are far too lax, but simply the force
and effect of decree of divorce granted
according to law.
The ecclesiastical side of the question pre-
sents different phase. In spiritual matters
the church is law unto itself, and, while
it cannot detract from the legal effect of a
decree of divorce, it may enforce it's own
doctrinal view on the subject among it's
members to the extent of their standing in
and relation to the church. The laws and
usages of different churches relating TO di-
vorces are different. The Roman Catholic
Church. taking the strictest and iirmest
grouna of any, holds that there cannot be
an absolute divorce with the right to re-
marry For weighty reasons the church
permits a separation OF the married parties,
and . civil divorce may be obtained where
it is necessary to effect the separation, but
neither of the separated or divorced par
ties can remarry while the other is living
There is no such thing in the Catholic
Church as breaking the marriage contract
so as to permit either of the parties to
marry again. accommodation is the PEN
atty for violation of the church law in this
respect The Episcopal Church is scarcely
less strict 1t recognizes but one cause for
divorce, the scriptural cause, but even in
| that case the guilty party cannot remarry.
Under no circumstances is an Episcopalian
minister permitted to perform the marriage
ceremony for person who was the guilty
party in such a divorce. The Methodist
Church recognizes only one ground for di-
vorce, adultery while the Presbyterian
| Church recognizes that and wjllful deser-
ton, though where 1t is found on investiga-
! ton that a decree granted ostensibly on
other grounds includes also the scriptural
cause the church rule is relaxed The rule
in both churches is that only the innocent