Bishop In Joint Protest Against Marriage Law

CAPE TOWN.
A joint statement on the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Bill has been issued in Cape Town, signed by Bishop Francis Henneman, P.S.C. Vicar Apostolic of Cape Town, and leaders of other Christian Communions in the Union of South Africa.
The statement says: " With respect to the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Bill, now before Parliament, we, representing the Christian Churches cited below, affirm;
(1) That the contracting of marriages between partners of different races is not contrary to the law of God. as declared by Jesus ,Christ.
(2) That we regard such marriages PARIS, as inexpedient and likely to produce unhappy results for the children, but not as in themselves forbidden.
(3) That hitherto public opinion has been sufficiently effective to reduce such unions from 133 out of 14,135 marriages of Europeans in 1925. to 77 out of 28,385 in 1946.
UNCHRISTIAN
In view of the above, we maintain that the proposed legislation is unChristian and unnecessary and, in respect of the duties devolving upon ministers of religion, who are marriage officers, are of the opinion that the provisions of the Bill create enormous practical difficulties.