The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-04-03
A Dangerous Problem.

are recognized, and even no religions
at all readily tolerated.
A Dangerous Problem.
say it is dangerous, because, in
marriage these conditions can SO
easily affect the Catholic body and
lead to loss of religion, loss Of faith,
loss Of morality, discomfort in mar
ried life, separation and divorce, race
suicide, and irreligious children; and
consequently rightful loss of mourn
full souls. | sometimes wonder if lack
of real faith is the cause of SO many
mixed marriages, or whether mixed
marriage is the cause of so much
loss of faith. | don't know. The
most faithful Catholics rarely contract
marriage with nOn-Catholics. If the
Catholic party is all right, then the
nOn-CathOlic becomes a Catholic be-
fore marriage NOn-CathUlics must
know that they do not get the best
Catholics, only the ones wandering on
the edge of CathOlicity. That very
circumstance increases the danger. for
a weak Catholic makes a bad impress
sion, while a strong Catholic is an I'M
mense power for good to all with
whom he comes in contact
Hence mixed marriage becomes a
and the faithful, and must be pre-
vented or protected with the utmost
care. 1t also affects the we'll or ILL.,
being of the State and the family
The divine law prohibits mixed
marriage if there is danger Of the
Catholic party or the children being
lost to the Faith.
The law of the Church most Sc.
yerely prohibits such marriages.
Should Be Prevented.
Bishop and priests are bound to
done
If they cannot stop them, they must
scrutinize carefully that the parties
are fit to marry, that the marriage is
performed according to the laws OF
God and the Church, and that the pre-,
cautions are likely to be kept. No
banns are allowed to be published; no
religious rites are allowed; instruc
tions must be given the non-Catholic
party in what the Catholic believes
at least regarding matrimOny; dis
pensatiOn must be obtained from the
law for the Catholic party to contract
such a marriage. All marriages
whether Catholic or between a Cath
olic and any non-Catholic must be
performed before the priest and two
legal witnesses, otherwise they are
null and void, and the Church does
not recognize the parties as being
married at all. No Catholic can be
married except before priest.
The Dispensation.
The Church will grant dispense
ton, that is, it withholds the law il
particular case, but only on the full
fillment of certain conditions, viz:
Cd There must be just and seriou!
reasons for it; for instance if thu
Catholic cannot get a suitable Cath
olic husband or wife; if there is hope
of the non-Catholic's conversion to tn,
Faith.
(2) The Catholic party must be ah
solutely free to practice his or he
religion; and must prudently by ez
ample and instruction help the non
Catholic.
CD Both parties must promise t
have all the children that may b
born of the union baptized an
brought up in the Catholic faith.
These promises are regularly re
uuired in writing and signed by bot
parties. OF course, it goes withou
saying that there must be no othe
ceremony before or after the Catholi
ceremony.
Catholics are also forbidden t
marry fallen-away Catholics or thos
who have Joined forbidden societie!
or public sinners who refuse to II
ceive the Sacraments.
There is no marriage between
person who is certainly not baptize
and a baptized Christian-unless, {
course, a dispensation has been o.
tanned from the impeachment OF diffe
ent worship.