Evening journal., 1918-05-16
CATHOLIC Church
LAWS CHANGED
New Regulation Will Go
Into E feet on Next
Sunday
MARRIAGE BANNS
ARE NECESSARY

Few vital changes have been made in
the new Catholic Canon law, which viii
go into encct all over the world next
sunday. Copies OF the new code have
been received by the church here and
IL is likely that all the priests Of the
diocese viii mention the changes in
their talks next Sunday at the masses.
There is a slight change in the mar
rlage laws and The baptismal regula-
tions are made more clear. The Irish
descendants viii be pleased to learn
that hereafter flesh food and fsh may
be served at banqueis Of 81. Patrick's
Day. March IL, although the day falls
usually in Lent. The regulation Of the
Canon law has often caused no end Of
trouble in the arrangements for service
at the hotels. but under the revised
law Of the church. ST. Patrick's Day,
hereafter will be set aside as Lenton
fast day or time. OF abstinence.
It is also stated in the new law that
no ono may be created Cardinal, a
prince OF the church. who Is related
BY the second degree Of conssnguninity
"a a living Cardinal. This will eliminate
wholly ecclesiastical ptlitlss and this
feature does not apply 20 any great eX-
tent TO this country, but rather to Italy.
The three Cardinals accredited TO this
country are Of no blood relation and no
future Cardinal Is likely to be related
"a any OF the existing ones.
The Canon law, as II has been built
ND in the centuries, had grown into
massive and complicated series OF vol
umes. each couched in the yernacular
Of It's time. Thirteen years ago the
Pope decided 70 have a new codeN COM
piled. and he called upon the best minds
in the church throughout the world for
aid. Cardinals. archbishops. bishops
and priests were SET TO studying the
old code, each making g. record Of his
Interpretations and the reason therefor,
and making suggestions for the simpll-
iiatlon Of the phraseology. All OF these
were sent to Rome where the commits
sion In direct charge Of the work
studied and digested and wrought, and
the result Is a single volume OF hVe
books.
The laws have been slightly modified
so that now 10 is permissible for valid
marriage to be contracted in the period
between Christmas and the Feast OF the
Epiphany, which falls on January 9
Heretofore marriage was forbidden be
tween the FIRST Sunday Of Advent anC
the Epiphany; now the period OF IN
hibition ends at Christmas.
Marriage Rule frightened.
But in the religious feature OF mar
riage there is no relaxation Of the rules
which rather are so frightened that tn
church will recognize nothing but mar
riages performed In fun complianc
with the church rules. In tho matte
OF marriage between persons OF blooI
or Aflnative relationship, the law ha
been relaxed to permit a marriage be
tween persons In the fourth degree
marriage without dispensation beinl
still forbidden within the first three de
erees OF consangulnity. In the matte
OF affinity where the marriage Of thos
connected merely by adoption, the rul
has been established that the State Law
governs. II the law OF the land in whicl
the couple live permits such marriage
the church Will perform them, other
wise not. In fact, throughout the ney
codincation there IS evident a desire 3
conform as closely as possible to ciyI
law
In the marriage code the churol
clearing establishes It's own breach o
promise" statute 70 declares that an,
promise Of marriage Is invalid unles
made IN writing under prescribed
formalities
Banns remain obligatory. Where mol
announced from the altar, they musl
be published IN a written notice at the
church door, which must be left in
place for at least eight days This
period Is prescribed so as 70 necessarily
include two Sundays, on which the
faithful are obligated to hear mass and
therefore, have ample opportunity TO
zee the notice.
In mixed marriages the banns are not
published except with the ordinary's
permission, and then without mention
n the creed OF the non-CathOlic When
parents do not know OF the intended
marriage Of a couple under 2i years OF
IRE. OF are reasonably opposed to the
marriage. the pastor may not proceed
lefore submitting the case 60 the
trdinary and receiving his permission.
Any non-Catholic ceremony In a mixed
marriage Is forbidden, either before or
nter the Catholic ceremony.
The age OF legitimate consent Ia
marriage has been raised In the case o'
males to &c years and in the case OF
females 10 "a years.
kaptismal Registrations.
In the Sacrament OF Baptism deacon
ire forbidden to haptize without per
mission OF the ordinary TO the pastor
which permission can be assumed 4
fxtreme cases, though where there
40 extremity IT. can be granted only Il
I good reason. The new code differen
ates between witnesses aud sponsor
1t a baptism. In private baptism tv
witnesses are desired, and one IS r
1uired where il is at all possible.
person may be qualified TO act as
witness who would not be acceptah
as q sponsor. Sponsors. when preset
AXE the places of witnesses.
In solemn baptism two sponsors. o
u each sex, are desired; one is
senlial. A sponsor in baptism shot
ordinarily be at least a years OF age
To facilitate the keeping Of baptism
records it is ordained that when q p
son Is baptized in other than his o,
~. a. ~ 81 .II...