Divorce & the Church

British law recognizes divorce; priests of England's state church are thus legally entitled--like other ministers--to remarry divorced people. But if they do, they face a growing current of conservatism within the Church of England. The draft of a canon flatly prohibiting remarriage of the divorced has long been creeping through official Anglican channels on its way to becoming church law, and last month it reached the Convocation of Canterbury. With Parliament the ultimate stop, the Archbishop of Canterbury felt it prudent to raise a warning hand.

"If we take this clause to Parliament . . ." he said, "the chances of its being rejected are almost overwhelming. We must take into account whether, for the sake of a clause we believe in, it would be wise to challenge a final battle . . ."

Every bishop and vicar knew what he meant. There is much latent sentiment in secular Britain against the state-linked church (it showed recently during the Princess Margaret-Captain Townsend controversy). If Parliament turned down the churchmen's divorce clause, then the bishops and vicars would have to choose either to defy Parliament or to back down, thus inviting the disestablishmentarians to go to work. Disestablishment would mean loss of state protection, possibly some lands, and the privilege of crowning England's monarchs.

So the churchmen retreated--all but the brand-new Bishop of London, High-Church Montgomery Campbell. "As everybody knows, Parliament cannot legislate against the known mind of the electorate," he said, "so it comes back to us . . . The church has to be firm in her witness to the God-given theory of marriage, an indissoluble union of one man and one woman. Therefore we have to stand to our resolution that there can be no remarriage in church where one or other of the parties has a partner living."

Next day he took it back. The bishop's statement "was intended as an exhortation, not as a command," said a spokesman. But the secular press saw its chance, and pounced: "How smug," exploded the Daily Mirror, "and how stupid." Editorialized the Daily Sketch: "Once again the Church of England has spoken with two voices." And the Evening Standard: "The new Bishop of London has made an unfortunate start in his high and important office." The" established Church of England quietly buttoned up its gaiters and waited for things to quiet down.

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