The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-04-25
MARRIAGE LAW.
Pamphlet Sanctioned by The Church Gives
in Simple Language Provisions of
New Regulations.

is given in a pamphlet entitled s'The
New Marriage Legislation, published
by the Dolphin Press Company of
Philadelphia, and sanctioned by the
church authorities. Protestants, too,
! will find the papal decree of interest,
as it makes special reference to them
under certain conditions.
The pamphlet, which was prepared
by John L. McNicholas, o. z. S. T..
Lr., contains the text OF the new law
both il Latin and English. The chief
features of the law are summed up Ia.
! Eaglish in twenty eight paragraphs,
seven of which relate TO stengage-
ments' and tWenty-one to s'mar-
riages.' They are as follows:
l. Every matrimonial engagement
after Easter must be in writing, al
though there is no necessity nor obi
CATION to enter into formal engage
ment before marriage.
| 2. In the eyes of the church and be.
| fore God private batrothal after Eas-
ter between Catholic parties, Or be-
! tween fallen away Catholics, begets
no matrimonial obligation whatever,
because the church DEGREES that every
/, prenuptial contract is void unless it is
written and duly attested.
! 5. PdrLies wishing to become en-
i gagged must sign the prenuptial con-
tract and have the bishop or thei
pastor witness it. In the absence OF
the bishop or duly authorized priest
two Witnesses must sign the engage
Inen5. Ii one or both of those to be
eng aged cannot write this should be
noted, aud three lay witnesses must
sign the engagement 10 the absence OF
the bishop or the parish priest.
4. These engagements should be en-
courag ed. Ii made some months be-
/ lore u arriage they Will help to stop
hasty alliances which are the cause
of So many divorces outside the
church ard SO many unhappy mar
riages among GaLhollcs.
i ). This written contract would fur
nisn good grounds III our civil courts
; lOE DfSdCu Ol PtOu1oS SUN.
8. Protestanbs and all who have
/ never b5en baptized ia the Catholic
faith are not Subjects of this law,
! hence their private contracts bind, for
the simple reason that the church has
] not made these the conditions under
which they must enter into an eng age
ment.
I. All fallen away Catholics,
1 rL,-k1 n
or infdels, are bound by the law. The
church, ike the state, can bind her
/ refractory subjects.
!, /. Every bisnop Tor vicar-geners 81
] or administr OF diocese) can
validity marry in his own diocese any
! parties, irrespective OF the country or
place whence they come. The bishop
can delegate any priest to do the
same.
2. Bishops or priests may not assist
| at marriages until they have assumed
Office.
3. There is no marriage at all If the
priest be compelled to witness it.
There is no marriage if the priest does
not ask and receive The consent OF the
! parties.
4. The authority which Line bishop
=
has IN his parish.
5. The bishop outside his diocese
and the pastor outside the limits OF
his parish caunos vailuly marry their
own or other subjects without due au-
| thorizatlon.
6. Marriage before priest who is
suspended or excommunicatad by
name will b no marriage at all.
| Al apri II All Ita{hpti.. hpth
parties Catholics before munster
or civil magistrate will be no mar
riage at all.
8. Marriage Of all fallen away Cath
ollcs twho have become Protestaats or
| lnIiueIs bofore minister or civil
mag lstrate will be no marriage at all
/ 3. Marriage of a Catholic to nom
| baptized person is never real IN ar
riage unless the church grants a dis
pensation. Such amarriage before a
/ minister or justice of the peace is nu
marriage at all Tor two reasons.
10. Marriage OF Catholic to a
Protestant Tone never baptized In the
| Catholic church before minister or
civil magistrate will be no marriage
at all unless the Holy See makes a
| special law for the United States.
IL. Marriage of d Protestant to a
Protestant provided they were never
| baptized zia the Catholic church is
valid.
II. Marriage of Protestant bal.
tized to u non baptized party Is no
marriage at eli.
-. Marriage of d non. baptized man
] 10 non-baptized woman is valid as a
| life ong contract. These parties do
not receive, however, the sacrament OF
| N atrimony.
II. There will be no marriage at all
unless there be TWO witnesses; one w.t.
! ness with the priest will not suffice
10. Bishops or priests should not
| witness marriages until they are
! morally certain thai the parties to bs
married are free to enter the matri.
moniaI state, hence as far as possible
dispensation from the publication OF
bans should not be sought
Is. For the lawfal celebration of d
marriage one or other Of the contract
ing parties should have a domieile or
live for q month in the parish where.
they are to be married. This condi-
ton is not, however, essential for TIM
validity OF marriage.
II. Marriages OF persons without
fixed abode should be referred to the
bishop before the ceremony takes
place.
Is. Marriage should take place ia
the parish church of the bride, unless
there be good reason TO go to the par
ish of the bridegroom.
10. There are new rules to be OBJ
served by the priest for registration
OF marriages. When contr acting par
ties are to be married In church