What is the Catholic position on divorce?

Answer 1

The catholic view on marriage is positive, encouraging those in the right circumstances to marry.

However, they strongly oppose divorce, due to the fact that they believe that marriage is a sacrament from God and cannot be broken. They have different views from the Orthodox or Protestant Churches due to their interpretation of The Bible- for example, in Mark 10:

"What God has Joined together, let man not separate [...] Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her." This Supports the views of Catholics.

In Matthew 19, however:

"Moses permitted you to divorce your wives [...] anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness[...]" This supports the slightly more forgiving (with regards to divorce) Orthodox and Protestant Churches' views.

Answer 2

Divorce was allowed in Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) times. But the permanence of marriage was restored by Jesus in the first century .

Marriage is a sacrament that is indissoluble. Once a valid marriage has been consummated, It endures until one spouse dies.

The church does not issue divorces or recognize divorces issued by other institutions.

The church can issue an annulment. However, the couple must first prove to a church tribunal that the marriage was invalid.

Answer 3

Catholics believe that when you marry somebody, you are joined in holy matrimony for life. If you were to divorce your husband or wife and re-marry, you would not be welcomed and recognized as a member of the church, and you will not be invited to receive the holy Eucharist.

Roman Catholic AnswerCatholics believe that a valid marriage lasts as long as the two people in it are alive, it is given by God, and not subject to man's determination. In the event where the couple must separate for some reason, say one is an alcoholic, or abusive, and there are children to consider, the Church may allow for a civil divorce in order to safeguard the support of the other spouse. But in this case, there would be no possibility of another marriage.

Answer 4

Catholic AnswerThe Catholic Church has no opinions of its own, it only teaches what was given to it by Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, who was quite plain "And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' He answered them, 'What did Moses command you?' They said, 'Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.' But Jesus said to them, 'For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.' so they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.' And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And He said to them, 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." Mark 10:2-12

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 19942384 Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery:

If a husband, separated from his wife, approaches another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery; and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another's husband to herself. (St. Basil, Moralia 73, 1:

J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 31, 849-852

Answer 5

Divorce is not acceptable. If one has a divorce they cannot marry again. In marriage the man and women become one - only death seperates them.