Are married Catholic couples allowed to separate?

  • Thread starter Thread starter WannabeSaint
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
W

WannabeSaint

Guest
Is it a sin for a Catholic married couple to separate? (With no grounds for annulment)

For more context: They’re not going to divorce, they’re going to remain celibate, and they will continue to provide for each other when needed. They simply aren’t able to reconcile their differences and decide to live separately for the rest of their lives.
 
Last edited:
I’m no canon lawyer but yes they can. They should talk to their Priest about it first.
 
It would likely depend on the situation, and they should talk to their priest.

I have actually known at least one couple (I don’t know if they were Catholic) who did this. They didn’t marry any other people, or have permanent relationships with other people (like a partner, girlfriend, boyfriend), they just lived separate lives. One of them eventually got terminally ill and the well spouse returned to care for the sick one until the person passed.
 
Last edited:
Our parish priest advised our neighbour to get out while she could. She and the oldest child were being physically abused. So yes, it’s allowed. In fact canons 1151 to 1155 address the matter of separation with the bond remaining. Canon 1153 addresses my neighbour’s specific situation.
 
yes my wonderful grandmother did that, never divorced never dated, and she was the happiest woman I ever knew. She outlived her husband many years so they were seperated about 20 yrs.
 
What a wonderful witness to the truth of the matrimonial bond. The world needs it.
 
That was the case with a cousin of mine. She and he separated (he was an alcoholic) and eventually he became very ill and she cared for him till he died.
 
It truly is. For me that it would be very difficult to separate from a spouse and would probably cause me some resentment towards them. Being able to then care for that ailing spouse would be even more difficult. A true testament to the faith and an inspiration for sure.
 
KyPerson said:
That was the case with a cousin of mine. She and he separated (he was an alcoholic) and eventually he became very ill and she cared for him till he died.
Click to expand...
The same with my aunt and uncle. She was supporting the family, 5 kids at home, and he was more than she could deal with. But when he got sick, she was at his bedside and cared for him until he died.
 
My aunt found out that my uncle had an affair which resulted in a daughter.

The woman whom my uncle had an affair with abandoned the child. My aunt then adopted the child and forgave her husband.

Years later as she battled cancer, the daughter she adopted took such wonderful care of her.
 
I talked to my cousin and you could see the love she shared with her adoptive mother.

My aunt, her adoptive mother, passed away years ago.
 
It’s amazing how God can overcome sin with goodness.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top