Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-28
MATRIMONIAL LAWS
ARE DETERMINED
BISHOP CONATY GIVES OFFICIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT.
Rules and Regulations Are Formulated
with Reference to Catholic Be-
trothaI Engagements and
the Marriage Ties

| The new laws regarding marriage,
recently decreed by the Catholic church
| to take effect Easter Sunday, were
given official announcement by Bishop
| Conaty yesterday. This announcement
gives the rules and regulations with
| reference to matrimonial engagements
and marriages. 1t is as follows:
| First-Every matrimonial engage
ment after Easter must be in writing,
! although there is no necessity nor OBJ
| legation to enter into formal en-
gagement before marriage.
Second-In the eyes of the church
and before God private betrothals after
| Easter between Catholic. parties or be-
| tween fallen-away Catholics, begets no
matrimonial obligation whatever, be-
cause the church DEGREES that every
prenuptial contract is void unless 1t is
written and duly attested.
Third-Parties wishing to become en-
gagged must sign the prenuptial con-
tract and have the bishop or their
pastor witness it. In the absence of
the bishop or priest two witnesses
must sign the engagement. If one or
bot of those to be engaged cannot
write. this should be noted and three
Law witnesses must sign the engage
ment in the absence of the bishop or
the parish priest.
Fourth-These engagements should
be encouraged If made some months
| before marriage they will help to stop
hasty alliances which are the cause
# s. many divorces among Catholics.
Fifth-This written contract would
furnish good grounds in our civil courts
for breach of promise suit.
Sixth-ProtestantS and all who have
never been baptized in 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 engagement.
Seventh-All fallen-away Catholics,
whether they have become Protestants
or infidels, are bound by the law. The
church, like the state, can bind her
refractory subjects.
Rules for the Clergy
Rules for the guidance of the clergy
are given as follows:
First-Every bishop (or vicar-gen-
eral or administrator of diocese) can
validly 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.
Second-Bishops or priests may not
assist at marriages until they have
assumed office.
Third-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
Fourth-The authority which the
bishop has in mis- diocese the parish
priest has in his parish.
Fifth-The bishop outside his diocese
and the pastor outside the limits of
his parish cannot validly marry their
own or other subjects without the
authorization.
Sixth-Marriage before a priest who
is suspended or excommunicated by
name will be no marriage at all.
Seventh-Marriage of all Catholics
(both parties Catholics) before a min
lister or civil magistrate will be no
marriage at ALL
Eighth-Marriage of all fallen-away
Catholics (who have become Protes-
tantst or infidels) before a minister or
civil magistrate will be no marriage
at all.
Ninth-Marriag of Catholic to a
nom baptized person is never real
marriage unless the church grants a
dispensation. Such a marriage before
a minister or justice of the peace Is
no marriage at all for two reasons.
Tenth-Marriag of Catholic to a
Protestant Zone never baptized in the
Catholic church, before minister or
civil magistrate will be no marriage at
all, unless the Holy See makes a spe-
cial law for the United States
Observation-Disclosures of a Protestant
to a Protestant (provided they were
never baptized in the Catholic church,
IS valid.
r'welfth-Marriage of non-baptized
ran to a non-baptized woman is valid
as a lifelong contract. These parties
do not receive, however, the sacrament
of marriage.
Thirteenth-There will be no mar
riage at all unless there be two wit
nesses; one witness with the priest
will not suffice.
Fourteenth-Bishops or priests should
not witness marriages until they are
morally certain that the parties to be
married are free to enter the matri-
monial state, hence, as far as possible
dispensation from the publication of
banns should not be sought.
Fifteenth-For the lawful celebra-
tion of a marriage one or the other
of the contracting parties should have
a domicile or live for month in the
~ rich xuhare thew are to he married