The Jersey City news., 1903-01-23

have to be brief, and yet We would like
to be as complete in the answer as posi-
BILE
'sThe Catholic Church regards mar
riage as something sacred-as sacra-
ment. 1t believes and holds that Jesus
Christ has taught that there is no alb
solute divorce. Once a man and woman
are really and validly married, while
both are living, there can be no separa-
tion with the right of remarriage. That
is the absolute law Of the church. So
that, in case where one party is a
Catholic and another a non-Catholic, if
they be really and truly married, and
there is a separation, neither one of these
can marry again while both are living.
That is the law, and there is no excep-
tion to that in the Catholic Church.
'In regard to the impediments that are
placed by the church in the matter Of
marriage, we must make things clear.
The church, having authority in regard
to this sacrament, does make certain
laws and institute certain impediments.
In other words, it says, under these cir
cumstances, or until these conditions are
fulfilled, there cannot be a valid mar
riage. Now, this is nothing extraordi-
ter of contracts the State itself makes
laws which render a contract void. I'M
der the laws of Pennsylvania, for in
stance, if one railroad were to become
the owner or proprietor Of another rail-
road, or the stock of another railroad,
that ran parallel with itself, that con-
tract would be regarded by the State as
invalid and null and void. and the rea-
son for that is the public good. The
general principle laid down in the laws
of the State is that contracts which are
against public policy, are or can be
called null and void. Now, if the State
in such matters can act in this way,
what must be done in order that her
saeraments be received; and so. in re-
gard to matrimony she makes certain
laws and she institutes certain impedi-
ments.' For example, the church says
that a marriage between a baptised per-
son and an unbaptised person is invalid
in the eyes of the CHURCH, That is no
marriage. And so, also, the church says
that marriage between first cousins
would be invalid. Now, these are the
two impediments that are mentioned in
the questions. There are other impedi-
ments, which it is not necessary to men
tion, as these illustrate the facts. So,
-. e., ~. +bn,,a
tain things which, in the eyes of the
church, render a marriage invalid.
Now, when the impediment to mar
riage is simply the law of the Church
when it is not the law of God, but the
law of the Church--the Church, when it
sees fit, and for good reasons, can give a
dispensation from the law, can make an
exception to the law. So in some in
stances the Church has allowed marriage
between Catholics and unbaptized per-
sons, but such Q. marriage is valid only
when it is performed with the dispensa
tion and consent of the Church.
MARRIAGE OF FIRST COUSINS.
$50 in regard to first cousins, there
have been instances when, for good rea-
sons, these have been allowed to marry.
Tile money consideration has nothing to
do with the matter. Would it be
wrong" as the questioner said, '.for
first cousins to marry! Will the giving
of money for dispensation make it
right?" No, that does not make it right.
1t is the recognition of the Church which
makes it right, and the Church recog-
nizes it only when there is good reason
for the lispensation.
Now in regard to mixed marriages be
tween Catholics and on-Catholies, the
custom is, If the Church decides that
there be reason for a dispensation, that
the non-Catholic party sign an agreement
to the effect that he or she will not in
terfere with the Catholics practice of his
religion, and also that any children born
be brought up in the Catholic faith.
This condition is demanded by the
Church.
The policy of the Church is against
mixed marriages. Her law is against it,