Posted on 09/30/2015 11:43:25 AM PDT by NYer
Those who fear that the Church is about to allow divorced Catholics to remarry can take heart by something Pope Francis said on his way back to Rome from the United States.
The Pope’s words might also reassure those worried that his recent motu proprio Mitis Iudex reforming the annulment process will weaken the sanctity of the marriage bond.
“Marriage is indissoluble when it is a sacrament. And this the Church cannot change. It’s doctrine. It’s an indissoluble sacrament,” the Pope told reporters during an in-flight press conference over the Atlantic.
The Pope was asked, in light of the upcoming Synod on the Family in Rome, whether he really wants a solution to the “remarried divorcee issue” and whether his recent motu proprio on streamlining the annulment process has closed this debate. “How do you respond to those who fear that with this reform, there is a de facto creation of a so-called ‘Catholic divorce?’” the reporter asked.
Francis responded:
With the reform of the marriage annulment procedure, I closed the door to the administrative path, which was the path through which divorce could have made its way in. Those who think this is equivalent with “Catholic divorce” are mistaken because this last document has closed the door to divorce by which it could have entered. It would have been easier with the administrative path. There will always be the judicial path. The majority of the Synod fathers in last year’s Synod called for the process to be streamlined because there are cases that have dragged on for 10 or so years. There’s a sentence, then another sentence, and after that there’s an appeal and then another appeal. It never ends. The double sentence was introduced by Pope Lambertini, Benedict XIV because in central Europe there were some abuses, and so he introduced this in order to stop these abuses, but it’s not something essential to the process. The procedure changes, jurisprudence changes, it gets better. The motu proprio facilitates the processes and the timing, but it is not divorce because marriage is indissoluble when it is a sacrament. And this the Church cannot change. It’s doctrine. It’s an indissoluble sacrament. The legal trial is to prove that what seemed to be a sacrament wasn’t a sacrament, for lack of freedom, for example, or for lack of maturity, or for mental illness, or, there are so many reasons that bring about (an annulment), after a study, an investigation. That there was no sacrament. For example, that the person wasn’t free. Another example – though now it’s not so common – is that in some sectors of common society, at least in Buenos Aires, there were weddings when the woman got pregnant: “you have to get married.” I strongly advised my priests – almost prohibiting them – not to celebrate weddings in these conditions. We called them “speedy weddings.” They were to keep up appearances. Then babies are born and some work out but there’s no freedom. Others go wrong little by little; they separate and say: “I was forced to get married because we had to cover up this situation” and this is a reason for nullity. In as far as the issue of second marriages – divorcees, who enter into a new union – is concerned, read the Instrumentum laboris, the Synod’s working document. To me it seems a bit simplistic to say that the solution for these people is the possibility of accessing communion. But remarried divorcees is not the only issue, there is also the problem of new unions and of young people who don’t want to get married. Another problem is emotional maturity for marriage, faith: do I believe this is forever? To become a priest there is an eight-year preparation period, but to make a lifelong commitment to someone through marriage, all it takes is four premarital preparation sessions! Thinking about how to prepare for marriage is a difficult thing. But “Catholic divorce” does not exist. Nullity is granted if the union never existed. But if it did, it is indissoluble.
One prominent American canon lawyer, however, was perplexed by some of the Pope’s reported words.
“I do not know what ‘administrative path’ to divorce there was to close,” Edward Peters wrote on his blog In the Light of the Law. Peters holds the Edmund Cardinal Szoka Chair at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. “The Church does not ‘do’ divorces, administratively or otherwise, and annulments (even documentary cases) are judicial procedures. Also, civil divorce per se is not forbidden to Catholics. CCC 2383. Divorce followed by remarriage is what raises issues.”
Ping!
“on his way back to Rome from the United States” It seems a lot was said on this flight.
I could have sworn that I read the Pope was ‘evolving’ on that issue. Maybe two weeks ago. I thought I read that he wished to make obtaining annulments easier for Catholics. I guess it never happened.
Indissoluble, unless you purchase an annulment.
Would a Catholic apologist please explain to me how a homosexual activist was the Bible-verse reader at the NY Papal Catholic mass.
Back in the 1960s, all it took was a “donation” to the local parish for my parents, both previously married, to get married to each other by the Church.
I'm not an apologist but I play one on the Internet sometimes.
What is the name of this alleged "activist"? That would be a good place to start.
That's nice. And you know for a fact there was no actual finding of nullity by a tribunal with regards to your parent's annulment? It was just the "donation" and nothing else that enabled them to be married?
Mother Theresa lobbied hard against divorce in Ireland, but defended Lady Di’s right to give charming Prince Chuck the old heave ho.
High powered Catholics like Biden, Pelosi and the Kennedys preach abortion in their public pulpit, and defend Planned Parenthood and their practices, but they still receive communion from The Church.
The Swimmer got his annulment—after how long a marriage and how many kids?
The Catholic Church’s positions on annulment, divorce and abortion—it’s head-spinning attempts to square these circles—makes as much sense as calling a woman “the Virgin Mary” who has had several children, as Mary had Jesus, James and many others.
The virgin Connie Swale was a real virgin, but most of us don’t venerate her either.
Not a slam—calm down, I can see you in my mind’s eye frantically fingering your rosaries ... I’m just trying to understand how sentient humans can reconcile these things in their own minds while maintaining even a semblance of self respect.
Give us a break, Frank: as far as you and the Church go, it’s all “Talk to the hand.”
But keep setting `em up and we’ll keep knocking `em down.
Were they married to Buddhists? - 'cause the Catholic church doesn't recognize Buddhist marriages. Now I'm pretty sure the Buddhists don't recognize Catholic ones either...
I made a "donation" too when I got married. Seemly like a classy thing to do vs. making the guy work for free.
Whatever gives you the pleasure you deserve...
I have news for you, he is not God.
There’s a lot more to an annulment than money.
That’s a mistaken idea.
Some cost $100 or less.
That would not be true. I’m sure they had to fill out paperwork galore.
Can you show me where exactly it says Mary had other Children besides Jesus?
Think of the annulment itself as a loss leader for future donations and political protection.
“What is the name of this alleged “activist”? That would be a good place to start.”
Mo Rocca’s Starring Role In Pope’s Mass Thrills LGBT Advocates
Activists hailed the symbolism of the openly gay reporter’s participation while calling for more systemic change in the church.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mo-rocca-francis-mass_5606d8eee4b0768126fdc46a
Is that your recollection based on facts or what they told you? The Catholic Church does not give "divorces". It does grant an annulment but ONLY after the petitioners appear before a marriage tribunal. The truth is that civil divorce and a church annulment are two vastly different things. A divorce is concerned with the legal realities of marriage only; an annulment is concerned with the religious and spiritual element—the sacrament of marriage. A divorce focuses on the end of a marriage; an annulment looks at the beginning, the very moment the couple said "I do." A divorce looks at marriage in civil law; an annulment looks at marriage from the perspective of the Gospel and of Church doctrine. It is a myth that an annulment is "Divorce, Catholic style."
You will find the explanation HERE.
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