The Catholic Churchs Stance on Marriage and Divorce

The Catholic Church’s Stance on Marriage and Divorce January 12 th 2010

Outline n n n n Marriage as a Sacrament Unity and Indissolubility Mixed Marriages Divorce in the Civil Court Annulment Advantages

Marriage What is marriage? n Marriage is a contract, a free will agreement between two people to take each other for life. n There are two essential properties of marriage… n Unity and indissolubility

Marriage as a Sacrament n The marriage covenant, by which a man and a women establish between themselves a partnership of their whole life, and which of its own very nature is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children has, between the baptized, been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. Consequently, a valid marriage contract cannot exist between baptized persons without its being by that very fact a sacrament (Canon 1055).

Marriage as a Sacrament Continued n n Historically the Church's claim to rights over the sacrament of marriage has been of the main conflicts with that of the State. The Catholic Church recognizes the State's authority, but believes that because the marriage is a sacrament Christ has entrusted the Church with the final authority over martial morality.

Unity n n By the unity of marriage the Catholic Church understands the monogamy of marriage; one man is married to one woman. This excludes polygamy meaning having more than one spouse at the same time.

Indissolubility n n n Internal indissolubility means that a marriage cannot be dissolved from within. A couple is united under a deep interior bond, which God is the author of, this bonds man and wife until death. Under Catholic doctrine this bond is absolutely indissoluble.

Mixed Marriages n Marriages between those who are Catholic and someone who is not Catholic turns out to be a misfortune for the couple and their children. The Church disapproves of mixed marriages.

Divorce What is divorce? n n n The decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved. Divorce is forbidden by the Catholic Church. From scripture in Matthew it says “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19: 6)

Divorce in the Civil Court n The Catholic Church does not recognize divorce in the civil courts. It is against God’s laws, and if a judge grants a divorce this does not end the marriage before God and the Church.

Three Conditions When is marriage indissoluble? n Both husband wife were validly baptized before marriage. n There has been a valid marriage contract, in which husband wife knew they were entering a lifelong union which was open to the generation of children, and they both freely chose to enter this kind of marriage. n There was natural not contraceptive, intercourse after marriage.

Exception Annulment, what is it? n Invalidation of a marriage, by means of stating that the marriage was never valid. n Those who have received an annulment are free to marry again.

Advantages n n n “The Church offers her services to every person who wonders about the destiny of marriage and the family “ (Pope John Paul) Family stays in tact as one unit. Providing a better example for their children.

Discussion Questions n n Do you agree with the Catholic Church’s stance on marriage and divorce? Do agree that divorced people should not be allowed to remarry?