Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-03-10
CIVIL WEDDINGS OF CATHOLICS
 ARE PROHIBITED BY THE POPE Mandate Also Requires Engagements to be Made in Writ ing in Presence of Priest--Ma agistrate May Act
 When the Prelate Is Absent

Marriages of Catholics by civil mag istrates after Easter will be null and void.
 Engagemnts to be binding must be written and signed in the presence of two or moro witnesses.
 Private betrothals between Catholics after Easter beget no matrimonial ob- iigstion in the eyes of the church.
 Fallen-away Catholics, whether they become Protestants or infdels, bound by these laws.
 Bishops after assuming office can only marry in own diocese.
 Priests after assuming office, can mar. " only in own parish.
 Marriages are invalid unless consent of both parties is asked and received by a witness of the ceremony.
 Marriages arc invalid unless there be two witnesses besides the priest or bishop.
 Marriages should take place in parish of bride except for reason.
 Marriage entered into in case of dan ger or death can be witnessed by any priest and two other persons.
 In absence of priest for more than a month Catholics can marry under civil law in presence of two witnesses.
 An important decree regarding the marriage laws of the Roman Catholic church, issued by Pope Plus K, and embodied in an encyelical letter to the bishops of the various Catholic dioeeses has been sent throughout the civilized world.
 The main changes in the marital laws will be briefly, that hereafter no en- gagement of marriage between two Catholics will be held as binding in the eyes of the church unless it is made in writing in the presence of witnesses; that no civil marriage contract will be valid in the eyes of ,the Roman Cath olic church unless it be performed-and then in cases of necessity only-during the absence for more than a month of parish priest, or delegated priest, and in the presence of at least two witness es. In such case, which would occur only in northern countries during the witer time or in sparsely settled To- calities, the contracting parties can then become validly married under the laws of the church by complying with the civil laws of the country in being mar ried by an authorized person and in the presence of two witnesses. The record of this marriage must then be given to the parish priest, with the names of the two witnesses, at his next visit, when he will enter it upon the parish records and no further ceremony will be necessary.
 In no other case, after the new decree goes into effect after Easter, will a civil marriage be considered valid by the church.
 This, it is expected, will stop effectu- ally runaway marriages among Catholic young people. Hitherto civil marriage has been accepted as valid under the laws of the church.
 Following are the two laws promul gated by the pope:
 "First-Engagements to be binding must be in writing and witnessed by the parish priest or the bishop of the dio- cese or at least two lay witnesses.
 Second-Marriage of Catholics be- fore civil magistrate or a Protestant minister will be null and void after next Easter''
 The following interpretation of the marriage laws of the church, including those recently decreed, was prepared by a noted Catholic priest:
 "First-Every matrimonial engage