The Washington times., 1912-07-29
DECREE OF ROME
IS M|SCONSTRUED,
DECLARES CERRETT|
Charge d'Affaires Says
Ne Temere Has Not
Been Repealed.

THE order of the Pope regarding the
marriage of Catholics and non-C Catholics
changes no regulation whatever, nor
does 1t repeal the decree ne temere,"
said Mgr. Bonaventura Cerretti, charge
d'affaires at the papal legation, today,
| speaking for Mgr. Bonzano, the papaI
delegate. I'm the countries affacted the
order simply brings about a restitution
in Germany and Hungary of a reguIa-
tion which has been in force in many
countries for nearly two hundred years.
Il do not know that this order affects
the United States. l think 1t does, but
/ do not and will not ~ informed until
advised by Rome.
The regulation in question was this:
in certain cases In which the nom
Catholic party to a marriage between a
Catholic and non-Catholic refused to
comply with the ordinary conditions
demanded by the church it was per-
mitted that the priest attend the cere-
mony as a legal witness, to take notes
and to after register the marriage max
ing 1t clear that he was present only
as a witness and not as the marriage
official
This regulation was suspended in
Germany and Hungary In the early
part of the nineteenth century and the
recent order, Of which there have been
wrong reports, restores this regulation
in those countries"
Under ordinary circumstances the
Catholic Church requires as condi-
ton precedent to the marriage Of a
Catholic and non-Carholic that 1t shall
be understood tina. the nom Catholic
party shall not object to the free ex-
ercise Of the religious beliefs of the
sion Of the aCtholic belief. and that the
children of the union shall be brought
Up in the Catholic faith.
The rigid enforcement of these condi-
.ons occasionally resulted in trouble.
rhe non-Catholic party sometimes re-
used to listen to any suggestion in
volving religious promises. Ihe de-
mands of the church in this and other
cases would produce ,S,,ra situation issai9 not
While this regulation giving the priest
discretion in certain cases was proscrtb-
ed in Germany and Hungary, It was
frequently evaded by the contracting
marriages were performed under less
rigid regulations.
The restitution of the old regulation
will, 1t is believed. reduce the number
of cases of this nature as well as others
| more aggravated.
In a dispatch from Rome today 1t Is
stated ''in the United States and Eng
land all provisions OF the decree without
retti's view Of the matter however,
indicates that there may be question
about this. to be settled onl'' when de-
tailed information regarding the re-
cent decree is received from. the Holy
See.
The same dispatch declares. how
| ever. that possibly the United States
and England may later obtain
change in that provision"
| "Is there a demand from priests or
the members of the church In the
United states for less rigid reguia -,
tions regarding the mar marriage OF
There Is not" declared Mgr. Ger
retti.
"May not this restitution in Ger
many result In part from the number
of illegitimate births reported in Ba-
varia and elsewhere?"
"That may be; I do not know said
| the charge d'affaires.
| Mgr. Cerretti repeated a number or
times his statement that the decree
ne temere was positively not repeal
ed and that there was no foundation
for such a report, but that the only
store in the two countries mentioned
the discretionary power given priests
in certain vexatious cases Of mixed
marriage.