The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-23
Roman Catholic Priests in the
Cincinnati Diocese Including
Those of Richmond, Read
New Rulings.
RULES PERTAINING TO
MARRIAGE STRINGENT.
Particular Care Is Urged and
Furthermore Demanded in
Pre- -nuptiaI Contracts -
Contents OF Decree.

In accordance with the decree on
marriage recently issued by Pope Plus
X. the following pastoral letter was
read in all the churches of the arch
diocese of Cincinnati, to which Rich
mond belongs, yesterday:
1t is to be carefully Observed that
in the meaning and application of this
decree, a Catholic is one who either
has been baptized in the Catholic
church, or been converted to it, even
if the former or latter has fallen
away from it, BY a uOn-CathOliC is
meant either a nOn-baptizcd person, or
Il person baptized in any sect On de-
nomination and never converted to the
Catholic church.
BetrothaIs.
Every engagement, in which one or
both parties are Catholics, in order to
be valid in the eyes of the church.
must be in writing and duly signed
and witnessed. There is no Obliea-
riage is lawful without it.
An engagement is duly signed and
witnessed in any one of three ways:
l. The two parties sign it, and the
bishop signs it as a witness.
. The two parties sign it, and the
pastor of one of the contracting par
ties signs it as a witness.
3. The two parties sign it, and at
least two witnesses sign It.
The church desires that either of
the first two methods be employed,
An engagement between non-Catho-
lie parties, whether baptized or not
baptized, is not affected by this law
The special effects Of an engagement
valid in the eyes Of the church are two:
a. 1t makes marriage unlawful with
a third party, unless the engagement
shall have been justly dissolved. (2)
1t renders invalid marriage to a third
party who is a blood relation in the
first degree to either of the engaged
parties. unless a diSpensatiOn for such
marriage be obtained. A valid en-
gagement has this effect even after
having been justly dissolved.
One effect of the new law governing
engagements will be to prevent hasty
and inconsiderate marriages; and an
other will be to afford more ample
protection to wOmankind.
Marriage (VaIidity.)
Catholics. from whatever country or
place they come. can be validity mar
ried in the presence of the ordinary
within the limits of the diocese. or the
pastor within the limits of his parish,
missions or stations. or Il priest who
has received delegation from either the
bishop or the pastor to assist at mar
riages in the diocese or in the parish.
A marriage of Catholics is not valid
diocese.
No marriage is valid unless the
bishop or the priests assists freely and
not from fear or through compulsiOn.
No marriage is valid unless the bish-
op or priest asks and receives from the
contracting parties the mutual consent
in which the marriage contract con-
sists.
No marriage is valid if contracted
before a bishop or priest who is, by
public decree. communicated.
No marriage is valid unless there
are at least two witnesses.
There are two exceptional cases, in
which the presence Of bishop. or priest,
or delegated priest. is not required
1.) When there is danger of death
and the parties desire for peace of con
science. to contract marriage provided
that neither the bishop nor the pastor
nor d duly delegated priest can be had
in time. the marriage can be validity
and lawfully contracted in the presence
of any priest and two witnesses.
80 If in any place during an en-
tire month. the parties cannot procure
the presence of the bishop or the pas
tor or a duly delegated priest. a mar
riage can be validly and lawfully con
tracted by the parties declaring their
mutual consent before any two wit
nesses. This is a case which cannot
occur in our diocese.
\ marriage is unlawful if celebrat
ed in a place where neither OF the par
ties has a domicile-nor has resided
for one month. There is. however. al
exception to this rule: viz. case Oi
necessity When in the judgement oi
bishop or pastor the necessity is con
sidered grave the marriage is law
ful.
\ general rule requires the marri
age 10 take place before the pastor OF
the bride.
Where there is no domicile of eth
or of the parties nor any place where
they have last resided for month
| the pastor TO whom the parties apply
must except in case of necessity. Oh
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