The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-01-13

EVEN is II
Christmas In the Emerald lsle-A Pc
cuIiar Marriage Case-5ritish Press
Aroused-lrish Bishop Denounees
Reign of Terrorism - Bishop Of
cioyne Brings Action for Libet-Re-
ception for French cardinals-C Cath
olic Influence In Austria-Hungary.
Christmas calls us home always, II
not in reality, then in our dreams, and
for how many men and women scat
tered over the globe that blessed word
represents a moity Of Irish earth un-
der soft grey heaven, veiled in deli
cate mist. Therefore, it seems fitting
today that we should devote the larg-
er part of our thoughts to Ireland
where they know how to celebrate
Christmas as well as they do in Ger
many, though methods differ. After
the Advent sermons and pastorals
preparations are now busy for the
great festival, and unlike their Eng
lish neighbors the Midnight Mass with
all its mystic attraction, welcoming
the Babe with prayer and praise In
the first hours of the Christmas morn
when the world sleeps, will not con-
clude the religious celebration Of the
day, for everyone is back at six a. m.
for the Mass at break of day, and
many attend a third Mass to complete
the cycle of the Missal. Again this
year the wonderful Crib of the Church
at Inchicore will attract pilgrims from
all parts of the country to view its
magnificent representation Of the first
Christmas morning. Dublin will be
very gay this year for the Viceroy Is
spending his Christmas there and will
entertain large party ALI this
makes trade, ETC., very brisk for it is
the custom for Irish society to do as
Lord Aberdeen does.
A Peculiar Marriage Case.
But apart from the festivities incl
dent to the season Ireland has attract
ed her neighbors' attention pretty
considerably this last week in several
ways. The extraordinary and unfor-
tunate case of marriage which has
been before the Sessions Court in
Dublin though finished so far as dis
cussion before the judge goes, is still
awaiting verdict, and has evoked a
great deal OF criticism, particularly
from that section of the public who
are forever looking for weapon
against the Catholic Church.
A Mr.. USHER, Protestant, was re-
ceived into the Church last year by
Father Fehy, parish priest of Lough-
rea, and married privately to Mary
Caulffeld in the presence of one wit
ness. He now seeks an annulment Of
the marriage on the ground that there
was only one witness and, therefore,
they were not married according to
the regulations of the Catholic Church
which, he contends, are the same as
those of Irish law. Father Fehy and
the Biehop of Clonfert gave evidence
in the court. To show in what spirit
the action was brought, His Lordship
testified that he had offered to regu-
larize the marriage without publicity,
which was refused. The present ac-
tion, therefore, is clear case OF
avoiding his obligations on the part
Of the man. Some very interesting
arguments were given in the court. It
was pointed out that, according to
Irish law. any two persons who stand
up before a priest and declare they
are man and wife are legally married.
On the contrary, it was shown that,
under a certain Irish Act, no marriage
could be celebrated between Catho-
lie and converted Protestant within
twelve months of the date Of the lat
ter's conversion-apparently a very
wise provision, in the light of the
present case. Judgment in this case
was reserved.
British Press Aroused.
Though the papal decree reviving
the privilege well known here in the
past as benefit Of clergy and distinct,
ly defining it, was promulgated al
long ago as October 9th, the general
British press has only just discovered
it through the medium OF an Irish
paper, the Dublin Daily Express
which leads the fantastic dance Of
horror, rage and prejudice which 1t ID
thought right to display. What
screams this journal, in widest hys
terics, SIS it possible that neither .
remote curate in the west OF ireland
nor the Archbishop of Dublin himself
can be brought before legal tribu
nal until the sanction OF his brethren
in Holy Orders has been obtainedi |,
Is an insult to British Justice and tt
every British subject" And there /:
much more in the same strain. which
will shortly be echoed in all the Eng
lish papers and which is altogethel
absurd