You weren't there and you don't know whether he really loved her, either, or whether either or both of them were under pressure from parents, clergy or society in general to get married for any number of reasons other than true love and commitment. It happens possibly half or more of the time: "marry in haste, regret it at leisure." But you leapt -- in both posts -- to the conclusion that he was victimized by her and that she is not forgiven and must pray, etc. Excuse me? It's not by works that we are saved. I believe Christ took care of that; she clearly described the moral dilemma and struggle with repentance. That's what He is interested in.
A divorce, all that led up to it and all that is in its wake is one of the most difficult things a Christian ever experiences. Save your armchair Christian counseling for after you have completed a suitable course of study and can show some humility and appreciation for her journey. Unless you are stainless, or an ordained confessor, it's not your call to pile on about the deepest sorrow of her life. God wants us broken, and this is how she got there.
If this is instead a Catholic/Protestant condemnation thing you are doing, it's not going to be palatable on FR outside the Religion Forum Catholic Caucus threads.
And you weren’t there either, hon. My point was that she went into the marriage ‘knowing she didn’t love him.’ That was a CHOICE - not a fault of fate. Love isn’t fallen into or out of, we CHOOSE to love. From the get go, she chose not to love him. Surely he felt that.
And if he didn’t love her, it was because he CHOSE not to. Both of them, in choosing not to love were disobeying God.
Did I know all this 30 years ago? No. Did she? Probably not. Just trying to make it clear to anyone reading that Christians, above all people, should always CHOOSE to love. Irreconcilable differences should never be a reason why a Christian divorces, yet the way I read it, she was excusing it. Just because we commit a wrong, does not mean we should stand in defense of it. We should acknowledge and confess it. I didn’t sense she was doing that.
I did not condemn her, nor did I judge her. I simply tried to point out that she shouldn’t blame her ex for a divorce that her choices clearly played a role in.
And I’m Non-Denominational, religion police. Have a blessed day.
And is it wrong or pious for me to suggest she pray for her ex? ‘Love your enemies’ ring a bell? Quite honestly, she sounds bitter because of his continued bitterness. A little prayer might do them both good.