I just wanted a clarification. I know a man who was rendered sterile 25 years ago because of radiation treatments for lymphoma, and I know a woman who has never married who is approaching menopause, and I just asked for verification that these two cannot, indeed, ever get married by a Catholic priest in a Catholic church.
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?
Ed
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.
This case is different. This is impotence, not stirility.
See my post 49. As long as they are able to have sex, they can get married.
No, they can be wed in a catholic church.
The church does not bar infertile marriages.
What the church does allow is divorce based on the grounds that should both people be fertile and one choose not to have children and deny the other their desire to have children, the church will recognize this as grounds for divorce.
I am not up on this topic, as it seems that the bishop has an issue with the fact that they may not be able to consumate the marriage because of the husbands condition.
However just because you are sterile/barron you can be wed in a Catholic church.. and no the lack of having a child is not grounds for divorce.. but if you want to have children and your spouse denies against your wishes to have children and both are fertile than this is grounds for divorce. You may not divorce if you desire children and your spouse is willing but is infertile.