New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04
CATHOLIC DIVORCE.
CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE
CHURCH ANNULS MARRIAGES.
SEVERAL CAUSES RECOGNIZED AS SUFFICIENT
PROCEDURE AT THE VATICAN IN CASES
WHERE IT is GRANTED.

WHERE IT is GRANTED.
On both sides of the Atlantic the question OF
divorce appears to be the topic of the hour
In this country elaborate statistics are being
published in order 10 show the extraordinary
increase in the number Of marriages dissolved
during the last few years both in Great Britain
and on the Continent The European press, on
the other hand is making the most Of a recent
notable case in New-York where remarriage
followed the grant of a divorce decree by only
two hours, with the object of illustrating the
abuse of the laws by means Of which matrmoni-
al alliances are sundered in the United States
Moreover the Anglican Church in America, as
well as in England. is engaged in an acrimonious
discussion to the attitude which should be
observed by its clergy with regard to divorced
persons seeking ecclesiastical consent to remar-
riage This being the case. it may be of timely
interest to devote few notes to the attitude OF
the Roman Catholic Church toward this exceed
ingly thorny problem They will naturally con-
vey no fresh news to the clergy of that denom-
nation. But the ignorance which prevails about
the matter. not only among nOn-Catholics, but
even among the Catholic laity. is great and il
is for their information that venture, a. a lay
man 20 pen these lines
Strictly speaking. the Roman Catholic Church
does not sanction divorce, which, like so many
people belonging 10 the various Protestant de-
nominations it holds TO be contrary to divine
law. taking the ground that it constitutes
danger not only religious. but likewise ma
terial since it IS likely TO impair that dIVheiy
appointed institution. the family with whose
purity and permanence the stability ana pros
perity of the nations are inseparaby associated
That this latter view is well founded is SHOWN
by recently published official statistics when
demonstrate that the number of illegltlinate
births instead Of being diminished. is on the
contrary multiplied in corresponding rauo u
divorce and that the latter IS increasing raster
than the population. In France. for instance
where the population is stationary divorces nave
increased Is per cent in the last hYe years III
the Kingdom Of Prussia they have Increased
% per cent. while in Alsace and in Lorraine the
number Of divorces has grown fourfold during
the last five years.
How strongly the Roman Catholic Church
feels upon the subject may be gathered from
the historic case Of King Henry VIII OF Eng
land when il preferred TO sacrifice the sprltua
allegiance OF an entire kingdom rather than
consent TO recognize the principle OF divorce oi
10 sanction the action Of that royal BiueOedru
in uniting away his first wife. queen catherine
~ Arayon in orde. to marry her mald-Ol-hohor'
Anne Boleyn
THE PRINCE OF MONACO CASE
rba,e are however. certain instances where
the Roman Catholic Church consents not 10
divorce but 10 an annulment of the marriage
ties In this it shows a degree or breadlh anu
of uberauty with which it 10 not geherA"'
credited by those belonging TO other denomina-
tons. For the grounds on which it annuls mar
r;ages are such as would constitute rahd cause
for the dissolution of marriage conti cts III Inc
courts of both the United States and OF Grea'
britain With more generosity and with
greater degree Of maternal solicltude Tor the
welfare Of its children. it does not however
brand with the stigma Of bastardy the lhhoceh
offspring Of unions thus annulled but recognizes
.b,, a. ~ every respect legitimate, one OF the
most notable cases in point being that OF tht
,.,,, Crou,n Prince Of Monaco the marriage
Of whose parents was annulled by the Ndtlcal
o., tho ground that the lads mother. Lady
Mary Hamilton sister Of the late Duke OF Ham
No., had been forced TO wed Prince Albert OF
Monaco against her will by her mother. the lat'
Princess Marie OF Baden, and by her klnsman
Nanoieon III. Lady Mary is to-day the we o.
Count Tasslo Festetics, one OF the grahoes'
territorial magnates OF Hungary, as wei as
great dignitary OF the Magyar Court WINE tn'
prince Of Monaco is to-day the husband OF al
American born Hebrew lady. daughter OF the
New-Orleans banker Michael Heine' VINO al th'
time of her marriage to the Prince was 'he
widow of the French Duke of Richelleu-
CoNsTRAINT A CAUSE FOR ANNULMENT'
This Monaco case may serve as a demonstra-
,ion OF at least one OF the causes for "hch th'
Catholic Church grants annulment OF marriage
7, ,akee the ground that free consent on botf