Abbadie, S.J., Father J. Francid, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1863 June 13

A young lady, fearing she could not be married by the priest because she had not made her First Communion, had recourse to a judge. Abbadie wonders what should be required of her before her First communion. Several months ago Father Victor Clerouin, sending a request for a dispensation to forward to the Archbishop's, wished to know if he could proceed with the marriage before receiving a reply. Abbadie told him he could, basing himself on the difficulty of communications and also on what Archbishop Anthony Blanc authorized at Opelousas. He wonders if he decided well. He wonders if a young man, who was baptized a Catholic but never learned or practiced his religion, can be treated as a Catholic when he presents himself to be married to a Protestant. He also wonders if he must refuse to perform the marriage if the license can be obtained neither from the military authority who declares himself incompetent, nor from the civil magistrate whose hands are tied. :: VI-2-g A.L.S. French 1p. 8vo.