Bishop denies impotent paraplegic church wedding

NewKerala.com ^ | 06/09/08

[Borges]

Melbourne, June 9: A paraplegic man was recently denied a church marriage by a bishop in Italy because he was impotent, say reports.

The 26-year-old man ultimately had to go for a civil marriage on Saturday in Viterbo.

"No bishop, no priest can celebrate a wedding when he knows of admitted impotence as it is a motive for annulment (of the marriage),'' the Australian quoted Salvatore de Ciuco, spokesman for Bishop Lorenzo Chiarinelli of Viterbo in central Italy, as telling SkyTG24 television.

The groom has been paraplegic since he was involved in a car accident, said the television report.

His fiancee was aware of his impotency, the report added.

The curate of the parish, who was banned from marrying the couple, was present at their civil ceremony.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“The Catholic Church is guided by the Holy Spirit in ALL things.”

And therein lies the disagreement. Most (or at least many) do not believe this regulation to be of the Holy Spirit and do not believe the Roman Church speaks for the Holy Spirit.

That said, I have no doubt as to your sincerity, and encourage you to hold them as St. Paul told each of us to hold such denominational-specific beliefs.

[verga]

That’s all...just, is it indeed true that no one who cannot bear or father children can ever be married in a Catholic church by a priest?

There are "Degree's of Sterility", Unless the amn has had a vasectomy, he should be permitted to get married. I do not know about the woman.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“A reason why Church is against gay ‘marriage’.”

See, I would just stick to all the passages calling sodomy an abomination, maybe read the story of Sodom and Gomorroah, and call it good.

No need to get all complex on the issue. Just gets you in trouble.

[Tamar1973]

This case is different. This is impotence, not stirility.

[cva66snipe]

Others are guided by The Holy Spirit as well including entering into marriage with a spouse incapable of child bearing due to such an issue as the one mentioned in this article. Remember GOD can produce descendants of Abraham from stones. If it is his will the couple produce a child the injury will not prevent it but medical science may enable it from his seed to her egg.

Posted by a walking man married to a quadriplegic in a Catholic Hospital Chapel. Priest and Nuns in attendance giving it their blessings. A Baptist preacher did the officiation.

It was an act in obedience to the Will of GOD. To that I have no doubts whatsoever.

[CatherinePPP]

I’m sorry but I find that ridiculous. How on earth could the bishop know that this man’s impotence will never be cured? Doctors are finding new ways to help infertile couples conceive all the time, and who knows, a miracle may happen for this couple. It seems very arrogant of this bishop to assume he knows the future better than God.

[Sir_Ed]

So impotence means the marriage can’t be performed in a Catholic church, but inability to bear or father children (due to cancer, etc.) is okay?

Both states mean that children will never be born, what makes the one state acceptable and the other state not acceptable for marriage under Catholic auspices?

Not trying to be contentious, just trying to understand...

Ed

[Tamar1973]

Impotence means that one has the inability to perform the sex act at all, meaning that the non-impotent partner is putting themselves in a situation where they will have an even greater temptation to commit adultery.

Sterility (due to cancer, surgery, etc) doesn’t affect the function of the sex act itself, just the result (conception).

That’s the difference, imo.

[Sir_Ed]

Thanks, Tamar.

Ed

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

This makes no sense to me. Suppose the couple planned to adopt children? Then could they get married? What if the guy was potent but sterile? Could they get married then? So the only justification for marriage is to have kids? GET OUT!

Well then the couple could just live together as companions. It would not be a sin. But if they want to be married, bonded in wedlock it seems pathetic and stupid that the RCC can't marry then. I am a Catholic and I disagree with this teaching.

[Drango]

I realize that it does not seem compassionate,

You think?

[wideawake]

Sterility is not an impediment to marriage. Impotence is.

[wideawake]

I suppose the Roman Church would not have married Sarah and Abraham.

Whenever the Catholic Church is mentioned, people's prejudices seem to overcome their ability to use logic.

Was Abraham impotent? If so, how was Ishmael conceived?

[wideawake]

Classy of the Bishop to speak out about this man’s very private problems.

The man in question went to the media to complain about the Church. The bishop did not discuss the matter until he was attacked in the media.

[wideawake]

So women past menopause can not marry in the Catholic church because they cannot have children?

Sterility is not an impediment to marriage. Impotence is.

[wideawake]

So women past menopause can not marry in the Catholic church because they cannot have children?

Sterility is not an impediment to marriage. Impotence is.

[wideawake]

The Bishop doesn’t believe in miracles.

Of course he does. God has the power to render this man potent this very instant if He so desires.

And if such a sign were to occur, the bishop would be pleased to solemnize the marriage.

[wideawake]

Or men who are sterile because of radiation treatments cannot marry, either, in the church...as they cannot ever father children?

Impotence is an impediment, not sterility.

[wideawake]

Then how come the Catholic Church doesn’t refuse to perform any marriage involving a woman who is clearly past natural child-bearing age?

Because she is not thereby incapable of fulfilling the unitive purpose of marriage, even if she is involuntarily unable to fulfill the procreative.

[punster]

That bishop seems to be so religious, he has lost the ability to have compassion. Sanctimonious only leads to cruelty.