[daniel1212]

The RCC is in no position to lecture ANYONE about divorce rates with the finessing of Scripture they do

That will be denied by them (and of course, Scripture can only authoritatively mean what Rome says it means, and she can presume to bind what God has loosed and vice versa), however, the broadness and variety of criteria under which a marriage may be declared by Rome as never having qualified as a marriage (and which potentially means multitudes of married Catholics may also may not be truly married) could nullify some of the marriages in Scripture.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonical_impediment#List_of_diriment_impediments_to_marriage. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P3Z.HTM see also post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2979388/posts?page=44#44]

Also,   it may be seen as rather contradictory in principal that Rome considers entering marriage with the intention of never having children to be a "grave wrong and more than likely grounds for an annulment."[McLachlan, P. "Sacrament of Holy Matrimony." http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu164.htm] , while praying to a women who apparently went thru with a marriage intending to do just that, according to Rome. ["Our lady intended to remain a virgin," by Pope John Paul II http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2bvm27.htm]

[Elsie]

That will be denied by them...

or worse...

[Syncro]

Also, it may be seen as rather contradictory in principal that Rome considers entering marriage with the intention of never having children to be a "grave wrong and more than likely grounds for an annulment."[McLachlan, P. "Sacrament of Holy Matrimony." http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu164.htm] , while praying to a women [woman] who apparently went thru with a marriage intending to do just that, according to Rome. ["Our lady intended to remain a virgin," by Pope John Paul II...

For apparently I read: as Catholic doctrine states.

So, Pope John Paul condones Mary's "intention" to sin?

[metmom]

Also, it may be seen as rather contradictory in principal that Rome considers entering marriage with the intention of never having children to be a "grave wrong and more than likely grounds for an annulment."[McLachlan, P. "Sacrament of Holy Matrimony." http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu164.htm] , while praying to a women who apparently went thru with a marriage intending to do just that, according to Rome. ["Our lady intended to remain a virgin," by Pope John Paul II http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2bvm27.htm]

Contradictory?

It's downright hypocritical.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

daniel112,
You’ve posted some great stuff on this thread. I appreciate it. Rock on!

[terycarl]

Also, it may be seen as rather contradictory in principal that Rome considers entering marriage with the intention of never having children to be a "grave wrong and more than likely grounds for an annulment."[McLachlan, P. "Sacrament of Holy Matrimony." http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu164.htm] , while praying to a women who apparently went thru with a marriage intending to do just that, according to Rome. ["Our lady intended to remain a virgin," by Pope John Paul II http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2bvm27.htm]

of course you realize that Mary and Joseph were married under the old covenant and were therefore bound by whatever regulations that were in effect at the time. Joseph could have died unbaptized, but he is treated the same as all who were born before baptism....Christ did not come to destroy the law, but to establish a new and everlasting covenant.