Catholics may set up divorce inquiry

OPINION is being can vassed in London and other parts of Britain on the desirability of setting up a Catholic Commission to examine Divorce Law Reform.
The need for such a Cornmission has been heightened by the release last week of the Law Commissioners' Report in which "divorce by consent" was advocated.
The Anglican communion has already had a committee examine Divorce law and its views were taken into account by the Law Commissioners' Report.
It is understood that some Catholic lawyers are willing to join a Catholic Commission, and in Church circles there is growing opposition to the attitude "because we don't believe in ,divorce we are going to ignore its existence".
A "POSITIVE DUTY" Recently Fr. Maurice O'Leary, of the Catholic Marriage Guidance Council, said Catholics had a positive duty to help in framing the laws and moral conduct for society as a whole.
"Although Catholics have no desire to impose their beliefs and moral attitudes on society as a whole, they have a right and a duty to make known their beliefs."
Bishop Harris, Auxiliary to Archbishop Beck in Liverpool, also believes that Catholics should take a more positive interest in shaping moral standards for society.
A spokesman for the Catholic Union of Great Britain (representing the legal profession) said this week that he could not speak for the Union, but he believed Catholic lawyers would be willing and, indeed. anxious, to support a Catholic Commission if one was set up.
A spokesman for Cardinal Heenan told the Cart tor .IC HERALD that he had not heard of any moves for such a Commission and therefore could not comment.