O.K., I didn't run through this whole thing, but let me ask this; given that this priest states that it is Catholic doctrine that the ability to have children is a, if not the, main focus of marriage, what does that say about the marriage of a heterosexual couple that knows they cannot have children, either due to medical infertility or due to the female being post-menopause?
Dear RonF,
Many Thanks for your query. I am not a Catholic Priest, I am only a Faithful Single Catholic Guy who is 34 going on 35.
But, I am an avid watcher of E.W.T.N. and I usually watch with great interest a Program that is broadcast on Fridays to Catholic Viewers in South Asia called "Life on the Rock" with Father Francis Mary M.F.V.A.
Your question was answered very well at that forum recently.
If a Catholic Husband and Wife cannot conceive through normal marital relations for whatever may be the reason -- I heard a Guest on that Program say that "The Couple can then be spiritually fruitful" or they can even adopt if they so want.
I hope this explanation helps. If you are passing through Minneapolis in the near future, you can drop by at Saint Agnes and ask Father Robert Altier-- I am sure he would be glad to help you out. He loves answering queries of all types.
He is a very helpful priest. If you are a Catholic, You could ask an Orthodox/Conservative Catholic Priest and I am sure he will give you a suitable or an appropriate answer.
P.S.- If any other Freepers would like to add any more to this, they are welcome.
IN THE RISEN LORD JESUS CHRIST,
Another point that could be made is that, unless the ability to have children has been surgically removed, perhaps because of cancer, people don't really "know" that they can't have children. At most, they've been told they can't, or they assume they can't (because they haven't) ... but the literature is full of situations of people who "couldn't have children" having them.
Whether these situations could be considered miraculous, or whether they simply illustrate the imperfection of medical knowledge, would be a case-by-case theological question :-).