The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-10-30
OUR MARRIAGE LAWS.
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF
THE CHURcH'S MARRIAGE
LAWS Is TAKEN FROM 9THE
ECCLESIASTICAL REVIEW"

Every Bishop Cor Vicar General or
administrator of diocese) can valid
ly marry in his own diocese any par
ties, irrespective of the country or
place whence they come. The Bishop
can delegate any priest to do the
same.
Bishops or priests may not assist
at marriages until they lave assumed
office.
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.
The authority which the Bishop has
in his diocese, the parish priest has in
his parish.
The Bishop outside his diocese, and
the pastor outside the limits of his
parish, can not validity marry their
own or other subjects without due au-
thorization.
Marriage before a priest who is sus-
4 pended or accommodated by name,
will be no marriage at all.
Marriage of all Catholics (both par
/ ties Catholics) before a minister or
civil magistrate will be no marriage at
all.
i Marriage of all fallen-away CathO-
| lies (who have become Protestants or
infidels) before a minister or civil
magistrate will be no marriage at all.
| Marriage of a Catholic to a non
baptized person is never a real mar.
riage unless the Church grants a dis.
4 pensation. Such a marriage before a
minister or justice of the peace is
no marriage at all, for two reasons.
Marriage of Catholic to a Prot
estant Zone never baptized in the
Catholic church, before a minister OF
civil magistrate will be no marriage
at all, unless the Holy See makes a
special law for the United States. :.
Marriage of non-baptiZed man tc
non-baptized woman is valid as 9
lifelong contract. These parties dc
not receive, however, the Sacrament
of Matrimony.
There will be no marriage at al
unless there be two Witnesses-ont
witness with the priest will not suffice
Bishops or priests should not swit
ness marriages until they are moral!
certain that the parties to be married
are free to enter the matrimonial
state, hence as far as possible diSpen
sation from the publication of bann'
should not be sought.
For the lawful celebration of ;
marriage, one or other of the contract
ing parties should have a domicile O
live for month in the parish where
they are to be married. This condi
ton is not, however, essential for thu
validity of a marriage.
| Marriages of persons without fixet
abode should be "eferred to thu
Bishop before the ceremony take!
place.
Marriage should take place in thu
parish church of the bride, unless
there be good reason to go to the pas
tor of the groom.
There are rules to be observed b!
the priest for the registration of mar
riages. When contracting parties are
to be married in a church where the!
we're not baptized, they should before
marriage secure their baptismal Ger
tificates
Marriage entered into when there
is danger of death, can be witnessed
by any priest with two witnesses, pro
vided there is not time to reach the
Bishop, parish priest, or priests ap
pointed by either of these.
If, for an entire month, parties cal
not secure Bishop, parish priest, o.
any priest appointed by either o.
these, they may in the presence of two
witnesses (there is no marriage i
there be not two witnesses) declare
their consent to marry. They are
then in the eyes of the Church ant
before God married AS soon aftel
the marriage as possible they shoulC
send their names to the parish prizes
for registration and do whatever il
required to have their marriage legal
!, ly recognized by the state.