From the Council of Tribur, A.D. 895

Canon XXXIX. If one of two persons machinated to divide one flesh into two and to disjoin the nuptial copula, saying that he had not contracted the rights of matrimony according to the law of his own nation, and therefore could be separated, by canonical institution we define, and by the judgment of all us orthodox we establish, that what is imperfect in law be perfected, and that the right of matrimony by no means be dissolved ... If anyone after these things, making little of the institution of this holy council, has led another, of whatever nation he may be, let him be canonically kept off, so that with penance he may be coupled to the former.

Namely, in the question of the value of marriage, civil laws have no force for Christians, but only ecclesiastical laws.

In this council a certain Roman Synod is cited, which is said to have said that a wife held before baptism is not to be dismissed after baptism: in baptism crimes are dissolved, not legitimate marriages. Whence the Fathers of Tribur argue that if he who transmigrates from life into life does not change his wife, how does he change her who does not change life, but passes from nation into nation?

Canon XL. When someone has stained the wife of another by the work of fornication and has promised by oath that, if both survive the legitimate husband, he will lead her, the Fathers establish:

"Such a marriage we anathematize and bar to all Christians. Therefore it is not lawful, nor does it befit the Christian religion, that anyone use her in marriage with whom he was first polluted by adultery."

But in Canon LI they decree the same concerning adulterers, even if a promise of marriage has not preceded. Cf. Canon LXIX of the Council of Meaux, above. The Council of Altheim, A.D. 906, Canon V, established the same a little afterward.

Canon XLIII. If anyone has fornicated with any woman, and without his knowing it, his son, or his brother also ignorant of the same matter, has polluted himself with the same woman, and after he has known that he has been polluted, has confessed and has confirmed by oath that he did not know this: because he repented of this and confessed, after suitable penance has been performed, let him use legitimate marriage (certainly with another) ... But let the woman (who is not supposed to be ignorant of the matter), who had committed so great an outrage, further do penance and remain continent and unmarried.

Cf. Canons XIV and XV of the Council of Compiegne.

Canon XLVII. He who has a spiritual co-father, whose son he received from the washing of the sacred font, and his wife is not a co-mother, let it be lawful for him, after his co-father has died, to lead his widow as wife, if he has no nearness of consanguinity. For what? Can those not be joined whom no carnal proximity, or no spiritual generation in this matter, separates?

Canon XLVIII. If anyone, by chance and by a case of affairs so occurring, has led in marriage the daughter of his spiritual co-mother, with more mature counsel having been observed, let him have her and honorably give work to legitimate marriage.