The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-21

Catholic priest.
Mr.. Guggenheim obtained a civil
divorce; the Church declared that his
first marriage was null and void from
the beginning. In the eyes Of the
Church, it was not real divorce that
he obtained, but declaration of an
nullment. SO far as one can ascertain,
what is called the Pauline privilege
was invoked. This doctrine is out
lined by ST. Paul whose name it bears:
''If any brother have wife that be-
lieveth not, and she consent to dwell
with him. let him not put her away.
But if the unbeliever depart, let him
depart. For brother or sister is
not under servitude in such cases.
But God hath called us in peace" q
Cor. VII, 12-15). This privilege has
been explained several times through
this column You must remember
that marriage is a contract; it is a
sacrament; and in the mind OF the
Church, as regards Christian marriage,
the contract and sacrament are in
separahle. If the contract was null
and void from the beginning, there
was no sacrament of marriage; hence
there would be no divorce in the COM
mon acceptation of the word; there
would be a declaration of annullment;
and if the parties to this attempted
marriage, now declared null, desire. to
get married, there is no law that will
deprive them of this privilege. The
civil court in practice recognizes this
practice. Tho court at times grants.
not a divorce, but declaration OF
nullity: declares that from the begin
ming there was no marriage, and of
course leaves the parties concerned
the option of contracting matrimony.
The Church likewise takes cognizance
of this fact which was verified in the
cease of Mr. Guggenheim. This latter
had the misfortune of being wealthy,
and his instance attracted attention and
was given public notoriety. Where the
fact justifies it, this law. may be in
voked by Catholics in any part of
the world and for more reasons than
one. 1t has been invoked in favor
of poor Catholics in China and Africa !;
the Church records in their instances
were just as public as those in the
case of Mr.. Guggenheim; but the re-
porter was not so interested. When
it is established that certain mar
riage was null and void because of
the presence1 of some diriment i'm
pediment, the Church is bound to de-
clare the marriage void, and can not
prevent the parties from entering into
a subsequent marriage.
49, ..rs
Is it possible for two persons to be
married by the priest, If one was
raised Catholic, but does not now
attend any church, and the other is a
Protestant who holds liberal views
towards the Catholic Church, but does
not wish to become Catholic?
Your question is so hypothetical, so
conditioned, that it is no easy matter
to advance a satisfactory answer. II
the Catholic person desires to be mar.
1ied in the presence of the priest, he
surely wants to be married in the true
Catholic fashion, and not in some
cam 0ufaged manner. He will, there
fore. desire to return to the practice
of his religion, to receive the sacra-
ments as a preparation for this great
sacrament of marriage, and he will
have the determination to live as a
real Catholic. If he has not these in!
tentions, it would be hypocrisy for him
TO desire to be married as a Catholic;
and we should not lightly accuse a
man of being hypocrite. AS to the
Protestant party, she brings in the ele-
ment of a mixed marriage. The con-
ditions for obtaining the proper dis
pensation are read in your parish
church every little while, and it will
not be necessary to enter into that
matter. The first step in your ease
will be for the Catholic man to re-
turn to the practice of his religion
and the second step will be for the
nOn-Catholic party to be instructed
in the teachings of the Catholic
Church.
How are we to regard the prophe.
cies of false religious teachers that
come true?
1t happens by accident that some
such forecasts of the future come true
Intelligent men are often able to
prophesy things that are bound to oc.
cur in the future But we should not
worry over the fulfillment of the
prophecies of false leaders, but ignore
them. God gave the following com.
mand to the Hebrews, in Deuteronomy
XIII: If there rise in the midst OF
thee a prophet or one that saieth he
hath dreamed a dream, and he foretell
a sign and a wonder and that come
TO pass which he spoke, and he say
to thee: Let us go and follow
strange gods, which thou knowest not,
and let us serve them Thou shalt
not hear the words of that prophet or
dreamer; for the Lord your God trieth
you, that it may appear whether you
love Him with all your heart, and
with all your soul, or not Follow
the Lord your God and fear Him, and
keep His commandments, and hear
His voice: Him shall you serve and
to Him you shall cleave. And that
prophet or forger of dreams shall be