Can a permantly impotent person marry?

[joanofarc2008]

We could. (I happen to be a Eunuch)

But we would STILL have to be married in a Non-Catholic seting.:sad_yes:

The marriage would not be lawful in the eyes of the Catholic Church.:nope:

But a civil marriage, or a religious marriage at some non-Catholic denomination, would be valid enough to allow adoption.:yup:

But I am not sure if the Catholic Church would regard such adopted children as legitimate.

Legitimacy of children has no bearing on anything. Also where are you getting your information? When you sit down for you marriage prep you are asked if you know you are impotent. Also I happen to have a friend who is in the boat where he is impotent now and unmarried (meaning has no voluntary erections) due to transplant meds. However, there are physical devices that can be implanted to give the organ some function (yes I am talking about a pump) for the act should he decide he wants to go the marriage route. I don’t mean to be funny here but there are options if someone is serious about wanting to be married or wanting to have some function. Hence why the assumption is always made on behalf of the couple looking for Sacrament.

 

[Owlpride]

why do some catholics go out of there to look for reasons why others cant do things? no one will admit it, but its downright mean.

 

[PerfectTiming]

We could. (I happen to be a Eunuch)

But we would STILL have to be married in a Non-Catholic seting.:sad_yes:

The marriage would not be lawful in the eyes of the Catholic Church.:nope:

But a civil marriage, or a religious marriage at some non-Catholic denomination, would be valid enough to allow adoption.:yup:

But I am not sure if the Catholic Church would regard such adopted children as legitimate.

A civil marriage is not be recognised, nor is a non-Catholic religious marriage, as you correctly state. And an impotent person cannot marry. So if a person knows the law of the Church yet goes around it anyway, clearly such a person does not care for the authority of the Church and of the Lord so why would they care how the Church perceived their children?
Regardless, illegitimacy is a civil law term rather than a religious one. The Church recognises children as a blessing from the Lord, regardless of the sinful state of their parents.

 

[joanofarc2008]

why do some catholics go out of there to look for reasons why others cant do things? no one will admit it, but its downright mean.

You would be right if someone came on here and said I am impotent I want to get married but this seems to be more of a theoretical discussion.

 

[1ke]

Actually it’s really not that completely unfair. How would someone know for sure that they were impotent unless they had tried prior to marriage? So therefore sin is the only thing that can lead to this knowledge beforehand. Yes, we can be forgiven in confession but sometimes we live with the temporal affects.

Otherwise the ability to consummate is assumed unless otherwise proven and validity is challenged.

Joan, this is simply untrue.

There are many, many situations in which a person would know beforehand. Disease, defect, illness, accident-- all of these things can render a person canonically impotent and would certainly be known to the individual and have nothing to do with premarital sexual activity.

 

[PerfectTiming]

why do some catholics go out of there to look for reasons why others cant do things? no one will admit it, but its downright mean.

We are obligated to try and guide our brothers and sisters in Christ away from sin. To handle everyone with kid gloves and just say ‘okay’ to everything is crueller than giving them the truth. And the truth is sometimes not what we want to hear but we still need it. To tell someone the truth and lead them from a sinful life is better than to pander to them and let them descend further and further downwards.

 

[1ke]

What about medical intervention? There are medicines these days to remedy this. Does this Church have objections to their use?

you are correct, there are many situations that can be handled via medical procedures. No, in general the Church does not prohibit such medical intervention. There might be some specific treatments that would be immoral, but i am not aware of any.

 

[Marie5890]

You would be right if someone came on here and said I am impotent I want to get married but this seems to be more of a theoretical discussion.

Dollars to donuts most Catholics dont even know this canon law exists. I would be surprised if anyone ever teaches it or of priests during Pre-Cana instruction talk about it.

Can you see a Rel. Ed class or a Pre-Cana class?

“Men, if you can’t have a voluntary erection, you can’t get married. It’s canon law”

 

[Owlpride]

these people have forgotten basic niceness. If being a catholic means being like this,.count me out. there is a coldness to so many posts…

 

[twf]

In the Middle Ages, some couples elected to enter into a Josephite marriage in which they agreed, with the Church’s blessing, that the marriage would never be physically consummated…they were not to engage in any sort of sexual acts, but rather live together as brother and sister. Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph never physically consummated their marriage. Is this no longer a valid canonical option?

 

[joanofarc2008]

Joan, this is simply untrue.

There are many, many situations in which a person would know beforehand. Disease, defect, illness, accident-- all of these things can render a person canonically impotent and would certainly be known to the individual and have nothing to do with premarital sexual activity.

I’m sorry but I have to disagree to a point. I probably should have said rarely. However, there are so many advances in modern medicine that unless the organ actually missing there is plenty that can be done medically as I stated above in many situations that can help with this. Granted I am sure it is not as wonderful as the natural God given gift but it is a option in many cases.

 

[pismopal]

Clearly I disagree with some posters, and they with me. That’s fine, I still think it’s amazingly unfair and downright cruel to the importent person. Just my opinion.

I am certain that you realize that an impotent person can be “importent” too but they can’t marry in the Church. I think they could live with the object of their affection however as “brother and sister.” If I am wrong…it would be the first time ever so let me know.

 

[Marie5890]

In the Middle Ages, some couples elected to enter into a Josephite marriage in which they agreed, with the Church’s blessing, that the marriage would never be physically consummated…they were not to engage in any sort of sexual acts, but rather live together as brother and sister. Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph never physically consummated their marriage. Is this no longer a valid canonical option?

Anti-Catholic apologists would certainly have a hayday with this, huh?

We believe that Joseph and Mary never consummated their marriage, yet canon law says this can’t be.

For me, it’s one of those hoop-jumping moments being Catholic.

 

[adrift]

Anti-Catholic apologists would certainly have a hayday with this, huh?

We believe that Joseph and Mary never consummated their marriage, yet canon law says this can’t be.

For me, it’s one of those hoop-jumping moments being Catholic.

Mary and Joseph were under the old law. Cannon law didn’t even exist. A marriage exist at the time of the exchange of vows. However, a marriage can be declared null if not consumated.

 

[Marie5890]

Mary and Joseph were under the old law. Cannon law didn’t even exist. A marriage exist at the time of the exchange of vows. However, a marriage can be declared null if not consumated.

Under the old law they didnt have to consummate their marriage?
The Lord changed that?

 

[karebear92]

I’m sorry but I have to disagree to a point. I probably should have said rarely. However, there are so many advances in modern medicine that unless the organ actually missing there is plenty that can be done medically as I stated above in many situations that can help with this. Granted I am sure it is not as wonderful as the natural God given gift but it is a option in many cases.

This does happen, although I admit it is very rare. I also think that even then they often can construct something depending on the circumstances.

In reality, marriage is simply not for everyone. It isn’t a right or a reward but a responsibility. Some people have the responsibility to bring life into the world and share it with another person, and some have a different, more direct responsibility to share their lives and love with everyone. Both are equally special and beautiful, so it isn’t really unfair as much as it is more limited. By the way, I just quoted you to respond to what is in bold. The rest is just my opinion.

 

[joanofarc2008]

This does happen, although I admit it is very rare. I also think that even then they often can construct something depending on the circumstances.

In reality, marriage is simply not for everyone. It isn’t a right or a reward but a responsibility. Some people have the responsibility to bring life into the world and share it with another person, and some have a different, more direct responsibility to share their lives and love with everyone. Both are equally special and beautiful, so it isn’t really unfair as much as it is more limited. By the way, I just quoted you to respond to what is in bold. The rest is just my opinion.

Yes and please don’t get me wrong the cases that are legitimate - are very sad but marriage may not be for them. Just as there are heart breaking cases of men who want to priests who are simply not called for one reason or another. It is sad but is the fact. We should support people in their lifestyle and choices that they have from there.

 

[TheMc]

What about medical intervention? There are medicines these days to remedy this. Does this Church have objections to their use?

Nope.

 

[TheMc]

They’re getting a choice taken away from them because of nothing they did. It’s a punishment for something they have no control over. It’s grossly unfair.

It’s just as fair as women being barred from the priesthood. It’s not their fault they are female, but they are still being “punished.”

Clearly I disagree with some posters, and they with me. That’s fine, I still think it’s amazingly unfair and downright cruel to the importent person. Just my opinion.

Please be clear in your terms.

You disagree with the church, and also with some posters who are siding with the church.

 

[Marie5890]

I am very curious to what the Lord would say if He could be part of this conversation.

I think of all of His healings on the Sabbath and many other instance where He took guff from the scribes and Pharisees because He was violating the law.

I wonder what He would say.