The menace., 1918-01-05
FURTHER LIGHT ON
PAPAL MARRIAGE Law
Pope Made Laws for Roman Sub;
Jects IN all Lands on Subjects
Covered by Civil Law


In q recent issue of TIE MrvArr
we showed conclusively how Rome
endeayqts, In her new canon code
On marriage, to make papal law su-
preme, civil statutes covering the
case notwithstanding.
Due to the changes the canon code
is undergoing we quote the following
70 SHOW the>fallacy of the papal boast
that Rome never changes and that
she Is growing more arrogant in at,
tempting to set papal law above civil
law tnan she has in the past-if such
degree Of arrogance is possible. The
quotation is taken from the SDy;no ~
field (Mo.) Leader, issue for DeceY.
Der 23rd, and will furnish food for
thought among those persons whose
churches find civil law sufficient botn
in letter and spirit:
"This year, due in a measure m
the exigencies resulting from war.
the Catholic church is Changing
somewhat its regulations regarding
the solemnization of marriage, also
the newly announced Code of Canon
law implies certain other changes.
"A portion Of this new code ia nou
In force, but most Of II will 20 into
effect next spring. How Il will affect
the laity ID Of interest to Catholic
readers.
Advent means the closed or forbid
den season for marriages. Under the
old order it was not permissible to
solemnize marriage between the he
ginning Of Advent and January z.
the DAY after Epiphany. Under the
new dispensation marriages are per-
mltted to be solemnly celebrated on
and after December 26.
AN important ruling affects the
valid age for marriage. The mini
mum age is 15 years for males and
IA for females.
According to this new code, no en-
gagement to wed is valid unless made
IN writing, singed by both parties to
the contract, by the pastor or bishop.
or by at least two witnesses. The
baptismal certificate is required. At
least three days should elapse after
the last publication Of the bans be-
fore the marriage takes place.
Blood relation ie a bar to mar
riage in the collateral line as far as
second cousin inclusive. Formerly
the prohibition extended to the third
cousin inclusive.
IAN important ruling concerns the
impediment Of affinity-between a
widow and her deceased husbands
blood relations. The new code pre-
vents marriage in the collateral line
only to the second degree-to the first
cousins of the deceased husband.
Under the new code it is required
that sponsor at baptism must have
reached his fourteenth year.
"The code confines the impediment
Of spiritual relationship to the god
parents and the person baptized.
1.-The sponsor at confirmation now
does not contract any impediment
forbidding him to marry the person
for whom he acted as sponsor.
Heretofore holy communion has
always been received while fasting.
An extension Is made in favor Of
those who have been Ill for at least a
month and whose early recovery is
not expected. They may receive holy
communion once or twice q week,
even if they have broken their fast
by taking medicine or liquid food.
"War and hardships resulting from
war have changed many strict rules.
The new code abrogates the general
prohibition against eating flesh and
fish on fast days, and until the regu-
lation is changed the following are
the only days on which both fasting
and abstinence are prescribed: Ash
Wednesday, all Fridays and Satur-
days in Lent, the ember days, and the
days preceding Christmas, Pentecost,
Assumption and All Saints days.
Should sny Of the days Of fasting fall
on a Sunday or holiday, there is no
obligation of keeping the fast or OBJ
stinence."