The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-26
CARDINAL EXPLAINS
POPE'S NEW DECREE
"Ne Temere' Permits Catholics
to Wed Protestants Only on
Certain Conditions.
DIVORCE SOCIAL PLAGUE
Prelate Insists That Marriage as
Sacrament Is Not State S
Business.
DIVORCE SOCIAL PLAGUE
BY THOMAS EMMETT.
/, TO Tho Trihmne.

Special Gable to The Tribune.
DUBLIN. March 25.-Cardinal Logue
the Catholic primate of Ireland, In his
Lentcn letter discussed the position OF
the church on divorce and mixed mar
riages at great length Speaking of the
agitation OF the Presbyterian church
against the pope's recent decree relative
TO mixed marriages the cardinal SAYS:
"one thing. however II is not so easy
TO gather from the discussion. how the
decree Ne temere' affects the settle
ment of the case. The avowed object OF
the agitation Is TO prevent through the
intervention of the civil power. the pope s
writ. at least on the marriage law. from
running In these islands. A penal enact
ment designed TO fetter the conscience
or Catholics would leave matters just
as they stand. 1t could never force
them to acknowledge as valid a marriage
declared invalid by the law OF their
church. as for Instance the rcmarriaee
OF divorced persons IL seems needless
therefore. 10 urge the civil authority to
assume powers with which IL is sufa-
ciently armed at present.
Marriage More Than Bargain.
The teaching and practice OF The
Catholic church with regard 10 marriage
are pretty generally known and easily
among baptized Christians rs not "A mere
civil bargain, but sacred contract. IL
was recalled by our Lord. from the laXity
which had cfept in under the jewish law
70 It's primitive institution of unity and
indissolubility. He raised IL to the Dig
nlly OF a sacrament. endowlns (, with
sacramentai grace TO enable those who
embrace the married state TO bear IT'S
onfdens and discharge It's duties with
Christian ndelty.
The church has always claimed and
exercised the exclusive right TO prescribe
conditions for the validity OF the CON
trdct' Just as conditions were prescribed
even ~ the old law by the Institution of
certain liabilities and as conditions are
prescribed by the state Tor the validity
uf clvIl contracts
The state may Iegislate. within the
oouhds of justice. FOR tie ciyil effects
or marriage. but where it touches the
essentials OF The sacred contract II goes
beyond It's province. usurpng a right TO
which II has no claim. We have d la
mentable example OF the pernicious con-
sequences TO which such usurpation loads
IN the clvii Jaw of divorce. II sets n
premium on conJugal infidclity. leads TO
the ruin OF families and outrages public
morality In some states of Amcrlco di-
Nofce Is granted with such facility that
there IS one divorce for every twelve mar
riaEes. Some lime since ! have read OF
Juafe In FRANCE who granted ninety
iour DEGREES OF divorce I'm less than two
hours. II is clear that this uSurpatIon
OF the civil authority threatens to reduce
marriage 10 a mere sham a mere com
pact between the parties To live together
just as long as they find IL convenient
IL the practice progresses as IL has done
UP 10 The present il will soon reach a
or wife her husband. with as much
case az they would change partners in
dance.
Divorce Social Plague
Even IN those countries where d.
Norce has hitherto been the luxury and
the disgrace Of the rich an attempt is
pelng made TO bring II within easy reach
OF the poor. So much for the interfer-
ence Of the statc in a sacred contract
and the usurped authority to rob ii of the
unity OF pcImanency with which it. has
been endowed by divine institution. The
evii has come 10 be generally acknowl-
edged and unanimously deprecated. 7
have often been asked in the United
States what remedy J would suggest for
this social plague, and could only sug-
sest onc-restore the Catholic teaching
on the unity. indissolublity and sanctity
oi marriage; From the earliest time the
church condemned divorce.
The pope has merely withdrawn
privilege which he has every right To
withdraw. Even II the decree be regard
cd as an act of fresh legislation. the pope
has stlll leglslated for his own subjects !
prohibiting them, under pain of nullity, |
10 enter into marriage with non-Catho-
lcS. except on the conditions prescribed |
by the church.
THE non Catholic party is not forced |
to enter into the contract; he is quite |
free; in fact the church would much !
prefer that he should keep To himself; |
but. II he enters into II, he docs so with
his eyes open and a full knowledge OF !
the consequences. A Catholic cannot be |
reasonably expected TO enter into n con- |
tract which does grave, sometimes IRE
parable violence 10 his conscience cut
ting hum of from all the aids and graces |
OF bis religion, opening up TO him a life |
oi discontent, misery and remorse by |
which the happiness OF both parties is |
liretrieyably blasted.
One advantage has resulted from the |
late agitation 1t cannot be alleged, as |
has been. that the law exposes nom
catholic girls TO the danger OF being de-
celvnd and surprised into an Invalid mar
rhase by unprinclp!ed Catholics. There !,
can no longer DC either surprise or de-