Vows are to be kept. This is called ‘declaration of intent’. But, it accepts there may be circumstances when the vows cannot be kept. The church prays for forgiveness and renewal in a marriage while acknowledging that for some there will be divorce and remarriage.
13th July ‘06
Christian Attitudes to Divorce.
The Protestant view:-
They disapprove of divorce, but believe if marriage goes wrong divorce can be allowed. This is because God always forgives people their sins. God would not want people to suffer. Also, in the teachings of Matthew in the Bible, Jesus allows divorce if one partner commits adultery.
The Roman Catholic view:-
Key words:
Annulment – recognising the marriage never existed;
Sacrament – a very holy act. It cannot be broken. Marriage is a sacrament;
Dissolve – to break a sacrament. It is not allowed.
The Roman Catholic Church takes the words of the Bible literally:
- Once a Christian marriage has taken place the two have become ‘one flesh’.
- The marriage is made by God and cannot be dissolved or ended by anything people do – only by death.
- If a couple who have been married in church get a divorce from the State, the Church teaches that they are still married in the eyes of God. They are not free to marry again while their previous wife or husband is still alive.
- Catholics follow the teachings of Saint Mark where Jesus does not allow divorce.
Annulments:-
The Catholic Church however does allow the possibility that there may never have been a real marriage in the first place, even though the couple went through a wedding service together. For instance:
- One of the partners might not have understood the marriage vows made at the wedding, or might have been forced;
- One of the partners might have lied when making the marriage vows: for instance, he or she might never have had any intention of having children;
- The couple may have consummated the marriage (had sexual intercourse together).
These are all examples of what are called impediments in the marriage.
In order to deal with cases like these the Catholic Church has a system of careful enquiries into marriages. If it can be proved that there was a serious impediment which prevented a real marriage from taking place then the Church will declare an annulment. This is a solemn declaration that from the very beginning no real marriage existed.
Catholics whose marriages have been annulled are free to marry in church even though the person to whom they were previously ‘married’ to is still alive.
Reasons for the Different
Attitudes to Divorce.
Christians have different attitudes because they interpret the Bible differently and disagree about whether marriage is a sacrament.
The Catholic Church does not allow divorce because:
- Jesus taught that divorce is wrong in Mark’s Gospel;
- The couple have made a covenant with God in the sacrament of marriage, and that covenant cannot be broken by any earthly power.
Non-Catholic Christians allow divorce because:
- Jesus allowed divorce in Matthew 19:9 for a partner’s adultery (fornication);
- Christians are allowed forgiveness and a new change for confessed sins so they should have another chance at marriage as long as they are determined to make it work this time;
- It is better to divorce than live in hatred and quarrel all the time.
