The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"MATRIMONY. 473Henry VIII. was divorced from his wife, Catherine, by Cranmer, the first Reformed Primate ofEngland.Luther and his colleagues, Melanchthon and Bucer,permitted Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, to have twowives at the same time. 1Karlstadt, another German Reformer, justifiedpolygamy. 2And modern Prussia is reaping the bitter fruitsof the seeds that were then sown within its borders.Seventy-five per cent, of the marriages now contracted outside of the Catholic Church in Berlin,are performed without any religious ceremony whatever. A union not bound by the strong ties of religion is easily dissolved.This subject excites a painful interest in our owncountry, in consequence of the facility with whichdivorce from the marriage bond is obtained in manyof our States. We have here another exemplification of the dangerous consequences attending a private interpretation of the sacred text. When Lutherand Calvin proclaimed to the world that it wasnot wise to prohibit the divorced adulterer frommarrying again,"3they little dreamed of the fruitful1Bossuet, Variations, Vol. I. 2Audin, p. 339.8American Cyclop., art. Divorce. Our Saviour declaresthat he who raarrieth an adulteress, comraitteth adultery. YetLuther and Calvin declare that it is unwise to oppose such amarriage. But "the foolishness of God is wiser than men."And Wisdom has said: will "Idestroy the wisdom of thewise."(I. Cor. i.)40*