January 12January 12thth 2010 2010

The Catholic Church’s Stance on The Catholic Church’s Stance on Marriage and DivorceMarriage and Divorce

OutlineOutline

MarriageMarriage Marriage as a SacramentMarriage as a Sacrament Unity and Indissolubility Unity and Indissolubility Mixed MarriagesMixed Marriages DivorceDivorce Divorce in the Civil CourtDivorce in the Civil Court Annulment Annulment AdvantagesAdvantages

MarriageMarriage

What is marriage?What is marriage? Marriage is a contract, a free willMarriage is a contract, a free will

agreement between two people toagreement between two people to

take each other for life. take each other for life. There are two essential properties of There are two essential properties of

marriage…marriage… Unity and indissolubility Unity and indissolubility

Marriage as a SacramentMarriage as a Sacrament The marriage covenant, by which a man The marriage covenant, by which a man

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

Marriage as a Sacrament Marriage as a Sacrament ContinuedContinued

Historically the Church's claim to rights Historically the Church's claim to rights over the sacrament of marriage has been over the sacrament of marriage has been of the main conflicts with that of the State.of the main conflicts with that of the State.

The Catholic Church recognizes the State's The Catholic Church recognizes the State's authority, but believes that because the authority, but believes that because the marriage is a sacrament Christ has marriage is a sacrament Christ has entrusted the Church with the final entrusted the Church with the final authority over martial morality. authority over martial morality.

Unity Unity

By the unity of marriage the Catholic By the unity of marriage the Catholic Church understands the monogamy Church understands the monogamy of marriage; one man is married to of marriage; one man is married to one woman. one woman.

This excludes polygamy meaning This excludes polygamy meaning having more than one having more than one spouse at the same time. spouse at the same time.

Indissolubility Indissolubility

Internal indissolubility means that a Internal indissolubility means that a marriage cannot be dissolved from marriage cannot be dissolved from within.within.

A couple is united under a deep A couple is united under a deep interior bond, which God is the interior bond, which God is the author of, this bonds man and wife author of, this bonds man and wife until death. until death.

Under Catholic doctrine this bond is Under Catholic doctrine this bond is absolutely indissoluble. absolutely indissoluble.

Mixed MarriagesMixed Marriages

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

DivorceDivorce

What is divorce?What is divorce?

The decree or writing by which marriage is The decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved.dissolved.

Divorce is forbidden by the Catholic Divorce is forbidden by the Catholic Church.Church.

From scripture in Matthew it says “So they From scripture in Matthew it says “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6)man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6)

Divorce in the Civil CourtDivorce in the Civil Court

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

Three ConditionsThree Conditions

When is marriage indissoluble? When is marriage indissoluble? Both husband and wife were validly Both husband and wife were validly

baptized before marriage.baptized before marriage. There has been a valid marriage contract, There has been a valid marriage contract,

in which husband and wife knew they were in which husband and wife knew they were entering a lifelong union which was open entering a lifelong union which was open to the generation of children, and they to the generation of children, and they both freely chose to enter this kind of both freely chose to enter this kind of marriage.marriage.

There was natural not contraceptive, There was natural not contraceptive, intercourse after marriage.intercourse after marriage.

ExceptionException

Annulment, what is it?Annulment, what is it? Invalidation of a marriage, by means Invalidation of a marriage, by means

of stating that the marriage was of stating that the marriage was never valid.never valid.

Those who have received an Those who have received an annulment are free to marry again. annulment are free to marry again.

Advantages Advantages

““The Church offers her services to The Church offers her services to every person who wonders about the every person who wonders about the destiny of marriage and the family “ destiny of marriage and the family “ (Pope John Paul)(Pope John Paul)

Family stays in tact as one unit.Family stays in tact as one unit. Providing a better example for their Providing a better example for their

children. children.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Do you agree with the Catholic Do you agree with the Catholic Church’s stance on marriage and Church’s stance on marriage and divorce?divorce?

Do agree that divorced people should Do agree that divorced people should not be allowed to remarry?not be allowed to remarry?