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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour fttre reproduit en un seul clichA. il est filmt A psrtir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en baa, en prenant le nombre d'images nicsssaira. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent \n mithode. 1 2 3 32X t 2 3 4 5 6 / /^:a »>> •■M* .tV^^V.i ■ i- ATHOLICS AND THK ! • MARRIAGES BILL. ■^ ■^ change in the law has been soiicited during the past fifteen years, and the numerous petitions presented. They have recognized in this persever* ance, and in remonstrances so gpiieral. the expression of a social NECESSltr." secure the legitimacy of offspring. I shall venture to regard it as incontrovertible, that Catholics must desire, that, when a xnar« riage with a deceased wife's sister has been duly celebrated, it shall have the same civil validity with all other marriages. Do any reasons exist why the law of this country should not be so altered as to give such civil validity ? I am able to suggest only three probable reasons. (1). A desire to prevent such marriages altogether. (2). A desire to discourage them and diminish their number. (3). A fear lest,' if the law were akered, Catholics would marry without dispensation. , .-. (1). The direct mode of accomplishing this object, of pre- venting such marriages, if it were desired, would be for the Church invariably and resolutely to refuse such dispensation, and utterly to condemn such marriages. But this, the Church does not, and will never do. Human nature requires such marriages. Long prohibition has indeed created a prejudice in the minds of some, as if there was something impure in these alliances ; but circumstances are often occurring in which a marriage with a deceased wife's sister is the only one a man can, with prudence and justice, contract. And, so urgent is the necessity (not arising from ungoverned passion, as some unfeelingly and ignorantly allege, but from affection, and a sense of duty), that, after long consultation and deliberation, those who appear to be the most devout and conservative ' *nen, frequently resolve to submit to all the consequences of disregard- ing the law. To prevent such marriages has always proved impossible, and is not, therefore, likely to be attempted now. • . • . ; • (2). The direct r de of effecting this object, viz. the dis- couraging of such marriages, as well as the preceding one, would be to refuse dispensations, or to grant them only in a few cases. But this is not the course adopted. Whenever asked for, they are granted, unless there has been some immorality. And, even if the fact of their possessing civil validity would increaa* the number of such marriages, it would seem a questionable mode of diflcouraging an undesirable marriage to take care that, when contracted, it should have no force in law, but that parents and children should live out the rest of their days under the perpetual stigma and damage of illegitimacy. It may, therefore, be taken for granted, that the Catholic Church does not desire that civil validity should be withheld from these marriages for the ]>urpose of discouraging them. (3). The fear lest Catholics might be married without dispen- sation is probably groundless ; but, even il such a result could be foreseen, the desire to prevent it could not justify the withholding of civil privileges of inestimable value, and which ought to belong to every allowable marriage. At the present moment, however, we are not without the means of judging on this point. As the law now stands, the marriages of first and second cousins are allowed by Catholics only on dispensation ; yet,- when con- tracted, they have full civil validity, being thus in exactly the same position which would be occupied by marriage with a deceased wife's sister if the contemplated statutory change were effected. But does any evil of the kind anticipated result ? Do Catholics marry before a registrar without dispensation ? It would be a very strange thing if they were to neglect or refuse to obtain a dispensation, simply because the marriage they were about to contract would be legally a valid one. I am informed as a fact, that they seldom omit to procure dispensation. Do marriages of first and second cousins, among Catholics, after dispensation, differ ecclesiastically from marriage with a deceased wife's sister ? I believe I may answer, in nowise. Can any good reason be assigned why the foriier classes should have civil validity and not the latter ? I venture to answer, none. Catholics, in hitherto omitting to promote the legalization of such marriages, may have been influenced by some prejudice i against them, or some vague notion of general policy. But pre- judice, or ideas of policyi should not make them commit the Injustice of actually promoting invalid marriages. Refuse dis- pensation or alter the law. . » In the case of those who believe such marriages to be contrary to a Divine precept, we have no course to pursue except to endeavour to convince them of what we consider to be their error of judgment ; but those who sanction and are instrumental to such marriages are, it would seem, bound irresistibly to consent to their being made civilly valid. To those who have contracted such marriages, their legalization must prove a precious boon, and the question arises, is their welfare to be sacrificed to extraneous considerations? I sincerely trust this will not be the case. I can suppose that Catholics, whether clergy or laity, have not fully considered the attitude they should, in consistency, assume toward a measure for legalizing such marriages. Let them remember, however, that everywhere else in the wide world, when a Catholic dispensation for such a marriage has been granted, and, when necessary, the Royal exequatur obtained, the marriage is valid. If any evils were found to result, we may be sure that the civil, as well as the ecclesiastical, authorities would cease to allow such marriages. As they do not, we may safely conclude they see no necessity for such a step. Then, why should not the same state of things exist here ? Let it, also, be distinctly understood, that those who seek to promote this measure have no ulterior aims, no party bias. They simply seek, for Protestants us well as Catholics, civil validity for this one marriage, a,nd nothing more. They pledge them- selves, that, when this object is attained, their organisation will be at an end. And Catholics should remember what a benefit the alteration of the law would confer on thousands of families among their Protestant fellow subjects. As men and as Christians, they cannot be indiflferent to this fact. By keeping the law in its present itate, no real good it effected, but infinite harm is done — miachiefs which will be developing themselves in families for generations to come, unless remedied. Experience shows it impolitic and impossible to prevent such roarrii^es ; humanity and policy dictate the removing from them the still lingering consequences of an obsolete stigma. I venture to address you, ''•ir, in your influential position, in the hope that you will admi. the substantial justice of the con- siderations I have laid before you, and give your support to any measure that may be introduced into ParUament to give validity to marriage with a deceased wife's sister. Requesting the favour of a reply, I have the honour to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, JOSEPH STANSBURY, M.A., Hon, Sec. *^* The preceding remarks may, mutatis mutandis, be con- sidered as addressed to all Catholic prelates, and all Catholic members of British Colonial Legislatures, in colonies where the law prohibiting marriage with a deceased wife's sister remains still unrepealed. Westminster ; Printed by NirsoLt »nd Soni, 2S, Parlieinent Street.