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Note and Comment

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 28.

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Note and Comment

Legal Marriage

In a leading Roman Catholic church in London the following notice was posted:—
By decree of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. On and after Easter Sunday, 1908, all Catholics are bound to be married in the presence of their parish priest or his delegate. Should they go through the ceremony of marriage in the registrar's office, or in a Protestant church, such ceremony will not only be unlawful, but will be null and void, and they will not be married in the sight of God.
According to Roman Catholic doctrine, marriage is one of the seven sacraments, and of course the church does not wish the state to celebrate one of the sacraments; but can the church nullify marriages authorized by the civil law? Can the church say to a citizen of the state, "Your marriage is illegal"? This may become a practical question for the state to settle.