The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-06-04
THE MIXED MARRIAGE EVIL.

Statistics of mixed marriages show
the following conditions among men
from sixteen to thirty-five years of
age: Where one parent is Catholic
and the other Protestant, sixty-six out
of every 100 young men have nc relig-
ion, that is, two-thirds are lost to the
Faith.
These statistics show beyond any
doubt that mixed marriages result In
an appalling religious Indifference, at
least on the part of the children born
to such parents, says the Echo. BY
the law of God, which His Church in
terprets, these marriages cannot be
allowed unless such precautions are
taken as to render the danger more
remote, and unless there exists good
and substantial reason why tbs mar
riage should take place. Hence, be-
fore a Catholic is allowed to marry
a non-Catholic, there are certain
promises which the non-Catholic party
must make in order that the priest
may be allowed to perform the cere-
mony. The non-Catholic party is re-
quired to subscribe to formula stat
ing that the marriage tie is indis-
soluble, except by death; that the
Catholic party shall enjoy the free ex-
ercise of his or her religion; that all
children be baptized in the Catholic
Church and be brought up in the Cath
Ollie Faith, and that no other Gel emory
than that before the Catholic priest
shall take place. These promises are
signed by the non-Catholic party in
the presence of the priest, ana sub
scribed to also by two witnesses. The
Catholic party likewise makes a SOL
emn promise to endeavor by al. pru-
dent and reasonable efforts to convert
the other to the true religion. The
pledges required of the non-Catholic
party should be carefully explained to
both parties. 1t is no kindness to
them to diminish any part OF their
significance or to minimize their i'm
port Should the non-Catholic party
find conscientious objections to these
promises, it would be UNNECESSARILY
better that the contemplated union do
tracted before the Church after a
merely formal signature of the re-
quired conditions. Hence the priest
will be careful to explain to both
parties these conditions, and only
when they are accepted and under
stood, will he have the right to per-
form the marriage ceremony.
The value of a course of instruc'
ton to the non-Catholic party can
scarcely be over-estimateG. Occasion
should be found by the Catholic I'd
introduce the non-Catholic to some
priest, and, in many cases, the
first call at the parochial residence is
enough to do away with all imaginary
fear or apprehension: The principal
reason for this course of instruction
is that, as the non-Catholic must
promise not to prevent the Catholic
from practising his or her religion, il
is only natural that the non-Catholic
should have some reliable information
concerning the doctrines an1 practices
of the Catholic Church. Hence it is
required that those contemplating
matrimony call upon the priest a
least some weeks before the wedding
is to take place, to receive the neces
sary instructions and sign the paper
required.
To render mixed marriages lawful
or to enable the Bishop to give ;
dispensation, it is not enough tina
simply the required promise be made
The laws of the Church require tina
there be good, solid and substantial
reasons for the marriage. This rea
son should be stated when applyin:
for the dispensation.
Seeing the mind of the Church, a.
interpreter of the law of God, on tn
subject of mixed marriages, Catholi
young men and women should give
careful consideration to The matte
before engaging themselves - be
party to a mixed marriage, 1t ie tru
in some cases that suitable wives an
husbands are not readily found, espe
cially in communities where Catholic
are scarce, and that the consideration
of business connection or position il
life are not always -blameworthy.
But Faith should be considere
first, and no sentiment or infatuatio
should be allowed to obscure the grav
responsibility involved in nike
marriage. There are socalled Catl
olics who say or indicate that if tn
Church should not yield to their d.
mands, they will be married outsid
of the Church. 1t may be wei to RI
mark here that if any Catholic goe
through a marriage ceremony befor
anyone but a priest, it is not consi'
cred as a real marriage b. tn
Church.