THE PING
Posted on 02/19/2005 10:48:04 AM PST by Salvation
** In order for a society to function at its best, the family unit, founded in a solid marriage, must be stable. Catholics achieve this stability through marriage, and we believe that for a marriage to exist, it must be done in a way the Church recognizes.**
In a nutshell!
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.
Marriage should be a sacrament, a channel of God's grace to bless the union of a man and woman...otherwise, it's just a contract between two people to give them a legal right to sexual exclusivity for the duration of the contract...not nearly the same thing.
Even though my husband has died, there are so many things that I remember and treasure about our wedding.
Tucked away in my "Treasure Box of Memories."
It's not even that. With decriminalization of adultery and introduction of no-fault divorce the civil marriage stopped being a contract between two people. It is now nothing other than a durable universal power of attorney revokable unilaterally and at will.
Ourside of the church, there is nothing left in the civil institution of marriage worth fighting for. I am glad that the prospect of gay civil "marriage" energizes so many people, but the real damage to the civil society was done decades ago in the West. The perpetrators were mostly straight.
THE PING
Now that is a good way of putting it...durable universal power of attorney...there are a few extra benefits, but it certainly functions that way as long as no fault law is allowed ot exist.
You see the hunger for something better in the growing covenant marriage movement...
Thank you for posting this. Given the likelihood of an inpending "do-it-yourself marrage within my own family, it is timely and I will certainly pass it on.
That's an amazing coincidence.
Oh! I forgot! There are no such things as coincidences!
God bless you for passing it on.
There are so many graces received through the Sacrament of Marriage that it is so sad that many don't follow the church rules.
Prayers for both of them. I remember when my son, now in law school took off on wild ideas/adventures to Montana to work in the hay fields, to Mississippi to be the only white student at a black junior college.
During those years, I would wake up a half hour early and say a rosary for him.
Worked for me...........and definitely was worth the effort since he has come full circle back to the Catholic Church also!
Thank you God, for small miracles.
Question from a rookie:
If one (say, non-catholic) is divorced, and wants to marry a Catholic, will he/she still be required to go through annulment, even if he/she did not get married in The Church?
Yes. The Church assumes that all marriages between non-Catholics are valid, unless proven otherwise.
Ah, thanks Sinkspur. This is up your alley, huh? ;)
Well, I worked in a marriage tribunal for 10 years. Did over 100 marriage cases. So, I've had a bit of experience.
Hats off to you. I know some from my parish who did that, and it can be rough. Definitely takes a knack...and grace.
I enjoyed it, but, between my regular job, the tribunal, and preparing for the diaconate, I just got burnt out. Our parish has a full-time paid advocate working with marriage cases.
Only if the non-Catholic was baptized and married to another baptized person.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.