New-York tribune., 1907-09-11
MARRIAGE REFORMS.
Decree of PapaI Council Introduces
Several InnOUatiOnS.

The decree of the Congregation OF the Council IN
PRODUCING practical reforms concerning the
celebration of marriage by Catholic priests has been
received in this country and will soon be read IN
all the Catholic churches IT. of course, has peeh
approved by Pope Plus Y, who ordered the con-
gregaton take up the subject of reforms IN 'ie
present system of celebrating marriages Arch-
bishop Farley and the Bishop of Brooklyn nave
ordered transatons of the decree sent to all the
parish priests Jurisdiction. The rulings
of the will abolish what have been popularly
known surprise marriages., and VIII require
the introduction in all parishes of a new form
of marriage and baptismal registers, for the oe-
cree enacts that marriages shall be registered not
only in the marriage register but also In the pap
tismal register.
The new decree also abolishes the "Tametsi de-
cree Of the Council of Trent. It proclaims. too'
that non-Catholics may everywhere contract mar
rages validly among themselves. independent or the
legislation of Church While this section of the
decree has no significance In this country, 1t Will De
a relief parish priests in Spain. where some oii-
ficuty has arisen this point.
In introduction to the decree the Congresato"
of the Council says that 1t has been asked by
very many bishops in Europe, as well as by others
in various regions. that provision should be lnade
to prevent the inconveniences arising from spon-
saIia; that is mutual promises of marriage prl-
yately entered upon. For experience has shown the
many dangers of such sponsalia first as oelng an
excitement to sin and causing the deception of in
experienced girls and afterward giving rise 10 IN
extricabl dissensions and disputes.
The first paragraph Of the decree takes up tlIS
subject and enacts that:
Only those promises Of marriage srfs are 'oIsd 9hch
Sd sd pea6 and 9 %rms nd by
ordinary of the place. at least by two WITNESSES
In one both parties be unable TO write 1nls
fact is TO be noted in the document aHa % agt,er ,ti
witness is to be added. who will sign the WrluhG
as above with the parish priest or 'he ofun@lf u
the place and the two Witnesses
Touching on the celebration of marriage the de
cree reads:
Only those marriages are valid Whicn -ir are con- NJ
the place or priest dele gated by either OF these
and before least two witnesses, aCcordihs 10 inc
rules laid down in the following artlCies.
The articles that follow describe the status Of a
parish priest and explain that he can assist Only
'licitIy'' at a marriage when he has ''ascertaned
the state of contracting parties ano "he'i
he has ascertained that one of the CONTRACTING
parties has domicile or at least has lived for a
month in the place where the marriage takes
place" Another article explains that no priest may
marry persons without fixed abode until he mas
communicated with the Church authorities
The seventh section OF the decree enacts tnat
.vben danger of death is imminent and where the
arish prest or the ordinary of the place or priest
delegated by either of these cannot be had. IN
order TO provide for the relief of conscience ana
(should the case require m for the legitimation OF
the offspring marriage may be contracted Nd''u''
and licitIy before any priest and two witnesses
The eighth section is extraordinary. II enacts
that should II happen in any district that the
parish priest the ordinary OF the pace OF n
priest delegated by either Of them is not to be
had and this condition Of things has lasted for a
month marriage may he validity and hctiy entered
uoon bv the formal declaration of consent MADE
~, the spouses in the presence Of two witnesses .
The decree becomes effective next Easter.