| On Easter
Sunday, 19th April, 1908, there came into force a very important
change in the Marriage Law of the Church. Hitherto a Catholic in
England getting married outside the Church contracted a true
marriage though incurring the guilt of sacrilege if the marriage
took place in a Registry-office or the double guilt of sacrilege and
heresy (with excommunication) if in a non-Catholic church. Any
marriage of a Catholic contracted on or after Easter Sunday, 19th
April, 1908, with another Catholic or with a non-Catholic remains
absolutely null and void in the eyes of the Church if it has not
been celebrated in the presence of the parish priest (or
rector) of one of the parties (usually of the bride, unless there is
some excusing cause) and of two witnesses.
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