To state that porneia is meant to be a just reason for dissolving a valid marriage would empty our Lord's response of its meaning, merely placing him with the school of Shammai. Note also that his disciples understood this as the meaning of our Lord with their response, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
Additionally, as Catholics we also look to Sacred Tradition as well as the Bible for guidance. This has always been the Catholic understanding of our Lord's words and as such is as much as an infallible guide as the Bible itself.
I am sorry about the history that you have presented about your parents and your former girl friend. But the question is always are we to be faithful the words of Jesus Christ. Following the Gospel is not always easy but if we open our hearts to the grace of God and seek always to do his will, and not our own, he will give us whatever graces we need to carry our crosses.
I’m sorry, but that argument doesn’t give any evidence that the word means invalid marriages. In the original Greek, the word is used to refer to sexual sin many times over, not invalid marriages. I cannot find a single use otherwise.
Even in context. Having said that, I DO understand your point. Even with the adultery exception, it doesn’t change Jesus’ words about marriage. The teachers were looking for ways out. Jesus instead turned the question inside out. Instead of looking for ways out, Jesus showed the holy estate of marriage.
Simply acknowledging the world is full of sin and that sometimes marriages get broken by sin doesn’t change that.
Believe me, I researched the smeg out of it when I was trying to convince mom not to get a divorce, and when my ex was worried about living apart from her cheating husband.
It would be so easy to agree with you. Would make my relationship with my mother much simpler, albeit harsher.
But I can’t get over the textual analysis! I just can’t see how the word is used differently in this ONE case and never has the same meaning elsewhere.
Prolly wouldn’t matter in my life. These marriages weren’t Catholic and so could be annulled according to RCC doctrine.
I’ll not talk about the can of worms that comes with the idea of tradition at the moment.
(The idea of ‘obedience to the Gospel’ bugs me as well because obedience is within the realm of the Law, but that would be beside the point at the moment as well.)