THE NE TEMERE DECREE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3267, 12 July 1911, Page 3

THE NE TEMERE DECREE.

DISCUSSED BY WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY. A STRONGLY WORDED OVERTURE. ll'EB JPEESB ASSOCIATION.J WELLINGTON, July 11. The pa-pal “Ne Tome re’ ’ decree was discussed in committee at the Wellington Presbytery to-day. when Rev. Dr. Gibb gave notice of motion of an overture to the general Assembly with regard to the decree. The notice was in the following terms. “Whereas the Ne,. To me re decree of the Roman Catholic Church demands for the validation of marriage between Roman Catholics and non-Roman Catholic subjects of this Dominion, the presence of a Roman' Catholic priest and in tlie absence of a priest declares this marriage null and void, and whereas the decree thereby unwarrantably interferes with the proper liberty of certain subjects in this Dominion who are declared incapable of contracting a valid marriage without the presence of a Roman Catholic priest, and whereas the decree exalts the variable regulations of the particular ecclesiastical discipline to a level with the unchangeable moral law of God in determining what marriages are valid and, whereas this decree is contrary ,to public -policy and inimical to domestic peace and social welfare (a) “In that it subjects non-Roman Catholic parties to marriage contracts sanctioned by the civil law and' against which no Divine law is, or can, be alleged, along with their Roman. Catholic partners in the marriages, to the scandalous imputation qf concubinage, so that their children are not born in true wedlock, and (b) that it instructs Roman Catholic partners in such marriages to repudiate obligations resting on lawfully married persons, it is hereby overtimed to the General Assembly meeting in Dunedin in November next to take the premises into due consideration, and to issue a manifesto setting forth , the mind of -the church regarding this intolerable invasion of the civil and religious fights of the people, and to take stich further steps if -possible in cooperation with other churches, as shall expose the machinations of the' Papacy and put people on their guard against the subtle encroachment of the Roman Catholic Church on the liberties of the nation.”