Can Catholics get married if they cannot have children?

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I am sure that you do not mean to sound disrespectful, but, that does.
 
You are the 3rd person I have used that phrase on.

You are the only one to take offense.

During the 80s and 90s during the Nuclear Power Plant circuit I worked, I used “Yo Munchin Power” and she would respond “Yo Giant Power”.

Currently I address another co-worker with the same greeting. She takes no offense either. And she knows I mean no disrespect by it.
 
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As I and others have been explaining:

The words “cannot have children” can mean different things. The answer to your question depends on exactly what you mean.

So long as someone has the ability to do the marital act, such a person can be validly and licitly married (assuming all else with regard to marriage). Whether or not children might be expected (sterility) to have children does NOT prohibit marriage. These are different issues, although they are obviously related ones.

And just because I am a priest, that doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated. I posted canon law at least 8 times, then you ask me “can you provide something from canon law?”

Do you think priests are not human? How many times do you expect a priest to answer the same question before he gets frustrated? I am a HUMAN priest, not a saint.
 
FrDavid96 said:
Oh please spare me your “holier than thou” hypocrisy! You aren’t fooling anyone.

Your post here is not only a lack of Christian charity on your part but a boatload of hypocrisy on top of it.

Grow up!
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Peace be with you.
 
Status symbols aside, matrimony is serious

The original question isn’t
 
cmjmevans said:
Status symbols aside, matrimony is serious

The original question isn’t
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The question is a serious one.

The problem is that the OP asked the question but (for some reason) won’t answer the question of which of the 2 standards to apply here. Is it a matter of inability to perform the marital act?, or is it about sterility?; as these are 2 different issues in the law.
 
littlebird said:
Please respond with catechism references.

Here is the situation: A significant other cannot have children ever. It is physically impossible and cannot be fixed. The couple are both 25 years of age and are Catholic. Can they get married in a Catholic church ?

I am hoping for a simple “yes” or “no” with catechism references.
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We were able to get married. We needed a dispensation since she was a Protestant and I am a Catholic. We also needed a dispensation because we were getting married in a different archdiocese.

We’re an infertile couple where having children is impossible. We’re still open to have children and plan on adoption. Being unable to have children as long as you can have sex allows you to get married in the Catholic Church. That means even a male and an intersex adult (assuming no reassignment or female reassignment at birth) could get married or someone without ovaries or someone with a genetic condition that made having children impossible thru infertility. I don’t think impotence per se prohibits Catholic marriage, only the total and complete inability to do the act would (i.e. the lack of a male and corresponding female part). Thus a female and an intersex may not be able to get married unless they were reassigned a male at birth.
 
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Oh? Sorry Director. I thought it wasn’t serious enough to follow up on. I liked when you said speak to your Priest. Please pray for me again so I may do well in this answer forum. My former answer forum app is defunct so I’m here now. I’ll support you the best I can.
 
“Being unable to have children as long as you can have sex allows you to get married in the Catholic Church.”

Ok. So If you are unable to have children and unable to have sex , then you cannot get married in the Catholic church ? But if you are unable to have children and CAN have sex, then the Catholic church will allow you to get married ?

Thank you for your reply.
 
Ok. I will try to explain it again.

I thought that “cannot have children” means “cannot have children”.

If someone is unable “to perform the marital act” , can they still have children ?
 
littlebird said:
Ok. I will try to explain it again.

I thought that “cannot have children” means “cannot have children”.
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In that case, you have not been reading the discussion here.

As I have said on at least a dozen occasions now, there are 2 ways that the words “cannot have children” can be interpreted. (at least 2 ways, but 2 ways relative to canon law on the matter of contracting marriage).
  1. A person is incapable of performing the marital act. Addressed in Canon 1084.1
  2. A person is still capable of performing the marital act, but is sterile. Addressed in Canon 1084.3
Please do not say that you will “explain it again” because I (and others) have repeatedly asked you to articulate which of those 2 realities is the subject matter of your question. You have not answered that question.

We cannot help you if you won’t tell us what you’re asking.

Again, I’ll repeat, there is no single “yes or no” answer to your question as you phrase it.

The answer is “if A applies, then this” or “if B applies then this.”

Since it is your question, you have to tell us which one applies.
 
Precise questions and concise speech go a long way toward productive dialogue and finding good answers. It’s a courtesy.
“let your yes mean yes and your no mean no…”
 
If someone is unable to perform the marital act, can they still have children ?
 
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