Lifelong marriage is too difficult even for Christians today. The Church should be willing to drop this vow, do you agree? Give reasons for your answer showing that you have considered more than one point of view.

Marital breakdown is another factor in the life of a married couple.  There can be many reasons for a break up between a married couple but all reasons lead to pain and difficulty, this is why couples are encouraged to strengthen their relationships all the time. In Britain the divorce rate is moderately high but not as high as the United States. The reasons for a break up in a marriage are numerous they mostly have to do with financial stability as most couples find this an important issue in life. Some reasons can be pretty straight forward like a lack of communication or a lack of companionship which are equally important.  Another reason would be false hopes, (this is when people get the wrong picture of married life and decide that they do not want to live with a commitment).  Human nature is a major factor as many people change in weather it be their action's or feeling's over a space of time people change, and the most common reason is children.  Many couples break up when they can not support a child.  All these reasons lead up to the final part of marital breakdown, divorce.  The Catholic Church does not see divorce as a feasible excuse for a couple to break up as it is a valid contract between two baptised Christians and is regarded as a sacrament.  The Catholic Church states divorce is a legal break up of a marriage leaving either partner free to marry again, though the Roman Catholic Church does not recognise divorce for the following reasons:  

• Christ insisted that the original intention for marriage in the plan of God and that it should be indissoluble.
• People who divorce are breaking a natural law, for the two people made a contract in the eyes of God and vowed to be with each other to death. A person who remarries is committing adultery.

Divorce is immoral in any case and can break up family and society.  Divorce harms the following people:

• The spouse which is deserted by his or her partner.
• Children suffer greatly from conflicts between two parents.
• It can spread through society like a plague by influencing other people to break up.

Annulment and Separation are the red herrings of marital breakdown as they are only granted in special situations. Annulment In the exceptional case of an annulment the church classifies the marriage as unofficial and therefore not legal.  There are grounds on which an annulment can be granted these include:

• One of the partners not consenting to the marriage in the first place
• One spouse not understanding the implications of what they were doing when they married
• The marriage not being consummated - no sexual act took place.  
• Separation though this may be the most painful, but necessary answer to a marriage that has become unfeasible. This can lead to a civil divorce without any blame being dealt to either partner. In this way certain legal rights, the care of the children and any inheritance can be protected.