The new marriage laws make for some interesting anomalies.
Was it not time for the bishops to separate the civil side from the sacramental aspect?
It appears that bishops have nominated priests as 'solemnisers of marriages'. Does this mean that a priest who has been nominated as a 'solemniser' can now be the state witness at a non-sacramental marriage? In other words can a priest set up a 'nixer-style' operation side-by-side with his role as a solemniser of marriages which also have a sacramental aspect?
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4 comments:
Michael,
I think the issue here is whether the state should automatically give priests the 'licence' to act as solemnisers - and why should the bishops be given the power to nominate solemnisers?. The catholic church does not recognise divorce so it is out of step with the legal system.
Must confess I do not know if solemnisers appointed by the Catholic Church have validity to solemnise at non-Catholic Church marriages.
But your point is worth noting. And indeed, this was a great opportunity for the bishops to call for a proper Church State divide. Let people marry in the State and then if they wish to marry in the Church well and good but after the State marriage.
Mao did not tell the full story when he said that all power comes from the barrel of a gun!
Power is seductive even when it is meaningless and irrelevant. The ways of the world.
Someone commented to me that the above comment shows a great loathing for the church and wonders why I don't leave the organisation.
So is it that the church wants to have everyone singing from the same hymn sheet? I have always felt there are great similarities between the hierarchical catholic churh and the old communist parties of eastern Europe.
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