The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-15
DIVORCE AND RE-MAR-
RAGE.

Church towards divorce. From
the very beginning she has been
the steadfast and uncompromising
defender of the indissolubility of
the marriage bond and the cham
pion of the rights of the family
which can be properly safe
guarded only when the husband
and father links his life with that
Of the wife and mother in a union
which no power on earth can sever
and which can be dissolved only
by the death of either one.
This attitude Of the Catholic
Church towards divorce is based
upon the injunction Of her Divine
Founder-''What God hath joined
together, let no man put asunder. "
Christ elevated the marriage con-
tract to the dignity Of a sacra-
ment; and in defence Of this holy
union the Church which He estab-
lished has never ceased to raise
her voice in protest against those
who would rob it Of it's sacred
character by making it's per-
manency depend upon the dictates
Of passion or the designs of evil
men. No power on earth can make
her deviate one iota from the
course mapped out for her by God
Himself. The pages of history
bear witness to the fact that from
time to time determined efforts
! have been made to bring about a
relaxation of her rigorous teach
ing in this regard such as would
Ipermit severance of the marriage
bond and allow one or both Of the
contracting parties to re-marry
during the lifetime of the other.
| In other words, persistent eff
forts have been made by interested
parties to prevail upon the Church
to consent to a divorce or to
recognize one granted by a civil
tribunal-but in vain. The Church
has held steadfastly to her
; course, and neither threat nor
bride nor the prospective apostasy
of a whole nation could induce her
to grant a divorce or recognize as
valid the re-marriage of divorced
husband or wife during the life,
time Of the other. Once a mar,
riage is validity contracted in &C,
cordance with her laws she recog,
nizes no real divorce. For good
. and sufficient reasons she may
} and does at times, permit a separa
ton of husband and wife; but q
real divorce
/ Cases have occurred where one
or both the parties to a divorce
entered into a subsequent mar.
riage with the approval Of the
Church; but in all these cases il
was found, after a rigorous in
= vestigation into the circumstances
, that no real divorce had beer
: granted, because, for one reason
or another, the first marriage was
not valid from the Church
, standpoint.
The Catholic Church has laid
down marriage laws for the govern
ment of her subjects and those who
donot abideby them cannot expect
to have her blessing on their mar
ried life. Thus, for instance, she
declares that no marriage of 6
Catholic will be regarded as valic
e and binding unless it takes place
= in the presence of a priest and two
witnesses. IL Catholics wantonly
S transgress this law by goine
E through the marriage ceremony
= before a minister of any sect, OF
e any civil officer, they cannot ex
= pect that the Church will recog
e nize the validity of their union
: From her viewpoint they are mo-
} married and if, subsequently, {
Illegal divorce is obtained the par
ties occupy the same position az
s If they had never been married a.
$ all. When the marriage Of one Of
). these parties takes place with thu
!. consent Of the Church there is NJ
i reason to charge her with laxity
or with a change of attitude
: towards divorce and re-marriage
e for the divorce which preludes thu
e possibility of a re-marriage of any
Ell of the parties to it must be rea
: divorce, and not a legal separa
: ton secured by persons who, il
81 the eyes of the Church, were never
Ell married at all.
In all cases, therefore, whert