Baltes, Peter Joseph Bishop of Alton, Alton, Illinois, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1871 March 21

Baltes acknowledges Purcell's letter of Mar. 8 but says that there is a great difference in this country among the bishops in regard to promises of marriage. He sends Purcell the opinion of the Archbishop of Baltimore. It is Baltes opinion that Rome regards the promises made in this country as binding in the same way as those made with more solemnity in other countries. He bases his opinion on: 1. The action of the Holy See, Vol. I, III. 2. On Ballerini, Vol. II, p. 487, which he quotes. 3. Scavini, Vol. III, pp. 616-743. As to funeral rites he allows his priests to do whatever the Plenary Council of Baltimore allows. As to the confession and first Communion of children, he instructs his priests: 1. Not to let children die without the sacraments because their parents force them to go to non-Catholic schools. 2. Not to place children visiting Catholic schools and those visiting other schools on the same footing. As a rule they are not to allow to First Communion, those attending non-Catholic schools when Catholic schools are available. There are some exceptions to this rule. He will send Purcell some circulars he has written on this and states that he thinks Purcell's Statutes the best he has seen. He hopes that Purcellis well. :: II-5-e A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.