Bishop Lefevere has observed that Catholics in his diocese are marrying outside the Church. The Church has always reproved such clandestine marriages. If he did not condemn and punish in an exemplary manner guilty parties in the present situation he would be concuring in their works. Jesus Christ said that a member, however useful, should be separated from the body rather than allowed to corrupt it. St. Paul did the same in the case of the Corinth scandal. Canonical punishment has always been meted out against her rebellious children who scandalize their brethren. Therefore he pronounces sentence of excommunication "ipso facto et latae sententiae" on all Catholics of both sexes who marry outside the Church, that is, contract marriage before any other than a Roman Catholic priest. Parents who consent to such marriages and heads of families who permit them to be contracted in their houses are also excommunicated. Lefevere reserves to himself the power, except in case of death, to absolve those so excommunicated. The same document is begun in French on the third page but ends after the second sentence. :: III-2-h L. 3pp. 8vo.