The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-09-04
COULDN |
WE'D POLA

The administration Of the last
rites OF the Catholic Church TO
Rudolph Valentino, and the Cath.
Ollie burial given the film star who
had been twice married and
divorced, and who had been report.
ed contemplating third marriage,
has drawn forth g number of In.
quiries both from Catholic and
Protestants, and official recognition
IS given such speculation In this
weeks issue Of the Baltimore
Catholic Review.
The Review, which Is the official
weekly newspaper OF the Catholic
Church In the archdiocese Of Balti.
more, which includes Washington
publishes the Following editorial
under the heading, The VALENTINO
Case:
1.-THE Review has received a NUM-
Der Of letters from readers who ex-
press failure on their part to un-
derstand why the last rites of the
church were administered to RH.
dolph Valentino. They ask for an
explanation.
There is nothing inexpIicabls In
the Valentino case; nothing con.
trary to the teachings Of the
Catholic Church in the admlnistra.
ton of the Sacramento to him.
That he died, as far as men can
know, In the grace OF God, IL an
occasion for rejoicing.
HWhen Valentino married outside
the Catholic Church he cut hirn-
self off from the church.
''TIe was no longer recognized as
a Catholic.
aHe could re,enter the church
only by going to confession, being,
sorry for his sins. making q firm
purpose OF amendment, AM oy abid+
ing by the penance given him by
his confessor.
Repented For Sin
sorrow for sin Tor Valentino,
well or sick, meant that he re-
pented for his sin OF marrying OFT
side the cIlrucll; that he renOuIced
such marriages; that he WAS 70
solved not to 1--we with any woman
whom he could not live with under
the laws Of the church, and he
was determined not to sin again.
f'Of course, that means that ne
could not live with q divorced
woman and he could not marry d
!
'.If Valentino married his first
wife according to the laws OF the
church he would have had to
accept her as his wife.
If he did not marry her as@crd-
ing to church law, she could moi be
considered his wife.
The Review understands that
the two were not married in the
church. or course, his sound
wife was not Valentines wife at
all In the eyes Ok the church. II
"a said that another woman, who
says she was Valentines fiances,
Is q divorces.
valentine, therefore, could not
have married that woman, no mat
ter what his intentions had been
at any time.
"A good confession on his part
meant the Pronunciation Of any de-
termination on his part to marry
such 4 woman.
Made Good Confession
What applied to Rudolph Valen-
tino well, applied to Rudolph Val
entino III. He was eligible TO recep-
don back into the church under
the same conditions.
5<A6 ANA 30 WC{ aNtAAh ACetgAE AAE AANN8eAO
q good confession, was sorry for
his sins, was determined 70 live ac-
eOrding to the laws Of the church,
which meant that he would not
marry again except according to
the laws Of the church.
In other words, Valentino was
fully resolved, in the event Of his
restoration to health. to rennunce
any wife whom he had married not
according to the laws Of the church
and to refuse to marry anyone who
was disbarred, under church law,
from marriage with him.
Case Of King Recalled
Henry the Eighth married
number Nf times. Henry the Eighth
could have returned to the church
on his death bed, if he had been
sorry for his unlawful marriages
and his other sins. and If he lad
resolved to lead Catholic life.
There are some who say that
Henry the Eighth did die a Catno-
lie, though he had been cut off in
his lifetime from membership in
the church.
God is mercifui.
He gives a sinner a chance to
save his soul up to the very
moment of death. He pardoned the
thief who died upon the cross. on
Hill.
"The fact that one who called
herself Valentines fiancee was
present at his funeral and claimed
his body does not alter the case.
IF there were any obstacles -
the marriage Of Valentino and the
woman. then Valentino dying =
good Catholic 1--WE trust and feel
that he did renowned all intention
Of marrying her.
valentino, dead, could not pre-.
vent her from acting as she did"