Divorce and Remarriage

BListon · #1 Mar 1, '12, 1:30 pm

If you are divorced, and have been remarried, then you realise it is wrong, how would you undo that? If you divorce again, then wouldn't that be a sin, but if you stay in a divorce and remarried relationship wouldn't that also be a sin? what do you do, hypothetically speaking?

**Trishie** · #2 Mar 1, '12, 1:48 pm

A person in this situation needs to speak to his/her priest.
Re-marriage by a Catholic after divorce, but without annulment, is invalid if the first marriage was valid.
A person leaving a second marriage might not only need to speak to his/her priest, but also to seek professional guidance.
God's kind blessings.

**1ke** · #3 Mar 1, '12, 1:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BListon

If you are divorced, and have been remarried, then you realise it is wrong, how would you undo that? If you divorce again, then wouldn't that be a sin, but if you stay in a divorce and remarried relationship wouldn't that also be a sin? what do you do, hypothetically speaking?

Separating from someone who is not in fact your spouse is not a sin.

However, what one would do practically speaking (particularly if there were chidren involved) would be to seek an acceptable solution in consultation with one's pastor.

It would be possible to remain civilly married, live in continence, and seek a declaration of nullity for the first marriage. If one is granted, then one would convalidate the current marriage. If the first marriage is found to be valid (and there are no other avenues such as dissolution of the bond under the Pauline or Petrine Privilege) then there would have to be a firm decision to remain continent until such time as the marriage can be convalidated (such as death of first spouse) or indefinitely.

Pfaffenhoffen · #4 Mar 1, '12, 2:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BListon

If you are divorced, and have been remarried, then you realise it is wrong, how would you undo that? If you divorce again, then wouldn't that be a sin, but if you stay in a divorce and remarried relationship wouldn't that also be a sin? what do you do, hypothetically speaking?

Theoretically speaking, you would have to separate from the present companion and return to your true husband or wife.

Divorce or no divorce is civil problem not a Catholic one.

Corki · #5 Mar 1, '12, 2:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pfaffenhoffen

Theoretically speaking, you would have to separate from the present companion and return to your true husband or wife.

Divorce or no divorce is civil problem not a Catholic one.

That is not the teaching of the Church. First of all, while separating from the present "companion" may be prudent, the Church also recognizes the obligations and promises you have made to that person and to any children you have together.
To abandon this new family unit would also be sinful.

Secondly, while the first marriage is still valid until proven otherwise, the Church allows couples to separate for good reasons. If the reason for the original separation still exists, there is no reason to expect the couple to physically reunite.

Pfaffenhoffen · #6 Mar 1, '12, 11:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

That is not the teaching of the Church. First of all, while separating from the present "companion" may be prudent, the Church also recognizes the obligations and promises you have made to that person and to any children you have together.
To abandon this new family unit would also be sinful.

Secondly, while the first marriage is still valid until proven otherwise, the Church allows couples to separate for good reasons. If the reason for the original separation still exists, there is no reason to expect the couple to physically reunite.

Where do you stand? I could not follow...

Corki · #7 Mar 2, '12, 7:54 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pfaffenhoffen

Where do you stand? I could not follow...

I simply wanted to clarify that there is no requirement in the Church that the individual reconcile with the original spouse nor that he/she materially abandon the current partner -- especially if there are children involved.

**1ke** · #8 Mar 2, '12, 9:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pfaffenhoffen

Theoretically speaking, you would have to separate from the present companion and return to your true husband or wife.

This is entirely untrue.

Pfaffenhoffen · #9 Mar 3, '12, 12:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

I simply wanted to clarify that there is no requirement in the Church that the individual reconcile with the original spouse nor that he/she materially abandon the current partner -- especially if there are children involved.

I do not want to be dogmatic nor I want to interfere with someone's life nor I want to enter into details which are personal nor provoke ruptures, but I do not think otherwise.

I would not say "requirement" but it is the natural thing to do. Now, every case is a case, but there may be children in both sides.

Tell you, this situation must be very rare for i never found one.

Pfaffenhoffen · #10 Mar 3, '12, 12:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ke

This is entirely untrue.

So....?

GraceDK · #11 Mar 4, '12, 5:45 am

In Scripture God says: I HATE DIVORCE.

It doesn't get much clearer than that.

joanofarc2008 · #12 Mar 5, '12, 9:48 pm

And the Canons, the CCC, and Scripture give us reason that a marriage may never have existed. The CCC and the Canons go as far as to say that divorce (civilly) is licit in certain circumstances but if the marriage is valid then the spouse may not remarry. I don't understand what your agenda is by saying otherwise.