Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
LIBERAL MARRIAGE
CODES ARE BACKED
Presbyterian Board for Birth
neutrality-suspicious.
Act on Divorce.
BY the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
| NEW YORK, April 27.-Changes In
church codes are proposed in reports
published today by oficial groups
within the Protestant Episcopal Church
and the Presbyterian Church in the
! United States Of America.
An Episcopalian commission appoint
ed six years ago recommended the
adoption of virtually a new canon COW
ering the church's attitude toward d.
vorce and remarriage. A commission
of the Presbyterian Church, deploring
| the increasing divorce rate, gave its
approval to birth control and suggested
! the establishment of courses for in
struction in marriage.
The proposed Episcopal divorce re-
form canon, evoked favorable and I'M
favorable criticism today.
Rev. DR.. Caleb r. Stetson. rector OF
Old Trinity Church and member Of the
Anglo Catholic wing here, approved
the report In principle.
DR.. StetSon, who was a member OF
the commission, approved heartily the
| proposal for a diocesan court to pass
upon marital cases.
Called Futile Compromise.
From the Liberal camp, the Rev. Dr.
Guy Emery Simpler, editor of the
Churchman, described the suggested
canon as q somewhat futile compro-
mise"
IT have always felt" he said, that
the performance of the marriage cere-
mony should be divorced from the
church, following the early Christian
practice. At best, any attempted legis-
lation by the church can be only Q
somewhat futile compromise"
The proposed canon would eliminate
| all grounds for divorce, but at the
same time create many grounds for
annulment.
While waving the church's centuries
old opposition to remarriage Of d.
vorced persons, it would authorize the
establishment of ecclesiastical courts to
, pass upon marital cases, including an
nulment and remarriage.
Bishop Herman Page, In issuing his
report, warned that the suggested re-
vision did not throw wide OPEN the
doors to remarriage Of divorced per-
sons.
Under the proposed canon" he said
mo clergyman Of this church can re-
marry divorced persons unless the
bishop, or a duly constituted court,
shall declare, after due inquiry that
the purposes Of Christian marriage will
be best served by the proposed mar
riage. And even then the clergyman
may not Use the form OF services con-
tanned In the Book Of Common Prayer
nor may the services be held in the
church"
Some Penalty Held Necessary.
Referring to the latter proviso, the
bishop said the commission felt some
penalty should attach to those who
had failed to keep the VOWS in q
former marriage"
While refusing TO recognize even
adultery as q ground for divorce, the
new canon would remove the penalty,
which consists in refusal OF the sacra-
mentS Of baptism, confirmation and holy
communion without the bishops consent
TO remarked Divorces.
The new canon would repeal the rule
forbidding the marriage of q COMMUNE
cant with any divorced person other
than the innocent member of q union
dissolved by State authority on grounds
| OF adultery. 1t would permit the re-
! marriage OF persons divorced for any
cause, provided the bishop or ecclesiasti-
cal court approved.
The grounds for annulment created in
the proposed canon consist of bar
| riers TO complete union existing In
advance, such as too close relationship
insanity, inmaturity, deceit, disease, etc
Based on Economic Conditions.
In giving its approval to birth con-
troll. the commission of the Presbyterian
Church said:
Earnest Christian people are asking
for the church'S guidance on the SUBJ
ject Of birth control. This subject de-
mands attention today as never before
Economic conditions and o worthy
standard Of living make 1t wrong to
bring children into the world without
adequate provision for their nurture and
proper consideration for the health of
the mother"
If birth control Is practiced, the re-
port continues, ut should only be in
fidelity to the highest spiritual ideals
Of the Christian home"
The church reaffirmed its position
that nothing but adultery or such will
full desertion as can in no way be rem
edied by the church or civil magistrate
is cause sufficient for dissolving the
bond Of matrimony''
The Presbyterian report will be sub
mitted to the General Assembly of the
church in Pittsburgh May %. The
Episcopalian revision will be presented
to the general convention in Denver
September 16.