Can Impotent Catholics Marry?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sparkythedog
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sparkythedog

Guest
While reading through a Catholic Answers affiliate site called chastity.com, I came across the statement that Catholic couples (heterosexual) who are impotent (cannot physically have sex) are not allowed to marry in the church. I thought I knew a lot about marriage in the Catholic church, but this one was new to me. I’m curious if this is this accurate, and if it is, what others think of this?

Here’s the link in case people want to read it for themselves:

chastity.com/chastity-qa/homosexuality/homosexuality/if-two-people-same-s

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut!
 
No, they cannot.

Can. 1084 §1. Antecedent and perpetual impotence to have intercourse, whether on the part of the man or the woman, whether absolute or relative, nullifies marriage by its very nature.

§2. If the impediment of impotence is doubtful, whether by a doubt about the law or a doubt about a fact, a marriage must not be impeded nor, while the doubt remains, declared null.

§3. Sterility neither prohibits nor nullifies marriage, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 1098.
 
It is worth noting that impotence is very rarely unable to be treated thanks to modern science so in most cases this isn’t really an issue anymore.
 
1ke said:
No, they cannot.

Can. 1084 §1. Antecedent and perpetual impotence to have intercourse, whether on the part of the man or the woman, whether absolute or relative, nullifies marriage by its very nature.

§2. If the impediment of impotence is doubtful, whether by a doubt about the law or a doubt about a fact, a marriage must not be impeded nor, while the doubt remains, declared null.

§3. Sterility neither prohibits nor nullifies marriage, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 1098.
Click to expand...
I found an interesting article on wikipedia. It states:

Physical capacity for consummation lacking [15]. Per Canon 1084 §3 “Without prejudice to the provisions of Canon 1098, sterility neither forbids nor invalidates a marriage.” Both parties, however, must be physically capable of completed vaginal intercourse, wherein the man ejaculates “true semen” into the woman’s vagina. (See [1] for details.) To invalidate a marriage, the impotence must be perpetual (i.e., incurable) and antecedent to the marriage. The impotence can either be absolute or relative. This impediment is generally considered to derive from divine natural law, and so cannot be dispensed.[16] The reason behind this impediment is explained in the Summa Theologica:[17] “In marriage there is a contract whereby one is bound to pay the other the marital debt: wherefore just as in other contracts, the bond is unfitting if a person bind himself to what he cannot give or do, so the marriage contract is unfitting, if it be made by one who cannot pay the marital debt.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonical_impediment

Basically it means that if the impotence was in existence BEFORE the marriage, and it can’t be cured, or if there is doubt if the impotence is permanent you could get married.

I would consult a canon lawyer.
 
1ke said:
Can. 1084 §1. Antecedent and perpetual impotence to have intercourse, whether on the part of the man or the woman, whether absolute or relative, nullifies marriage by its very nature.
Click to expand...
That’s interesting. I’ve never heard that before.

If one of the partners in an existing marriage becomes permanently impotent due to an illness or injury does their marriage becomes void?
 
PatrickSebast said:
It is worth noting that impotence is very rarely unable to be treated thanks to modern science so in most cases this isn’t really an issue anymore.
Click to expand...
I do realize that. I’m more concerned about the extreme cases.
 
I am a Catholic. I am impotent. I am married. I have sex. I dissent from the Church’s teaching on this. Amen.
 
Sparkythedog said:
That’s interesting. I’ve never heard that before.

If one of the partners in an existing marriage becomes permanently impotent due to an illness or injury does their marriage becomes void?
Click to expand...
They key word is antecedant which means before the marriage. If it happens after their marrage it does not affect the marriage.
 
caoindealbhan said:
I am a Catholic. I am impotent. I am married. I have sex. I dissent from the Church’s teaching on this. Amen.
Click to expand...
Publicly admitting to be a heretic! That’s nothing to be proud of!
Your immortal soul is in danger.
 
thistle said:
Publicly admitting to be a heretic! That’s nothing to be proud of!
Your immortal soul is in danger.
Click to expand...
In all reality, I wasn’t aware of this teaching. I probably have heard it before, just not thought about it.

My uncle is paralyzed from the waste down, sexual organs included. He served in the Gulf War, although his injury is unrelated. He is currently engaged. As a practicing Catholic, he has every intention of being married in a Catholic church. In effect - he’s impotent. I find it troubling that because of his medical state, that he could be denied the sacrament of marriage and subsequently be declared a heretic if he were to dissent from the teaching of the Church. It is evident that he is in love with his fiance, but because of his sexual impotence - he should be denied the love, companionship, and beauty of marriage. These are times where I find full communion with Rome especially difficult.

God Bless!
 
thistle said:
Publicly admitting to be a heretic! That’s nothing to be proud of!
Your immortal soul is in danger.
Click to expand...
Because he cannot reproduce and he is married, his soul is in danger? Really? I have heard some really half baked judgments on CAF, and some pretty hard core cruelty. but this one takes the cake. Amazing! There are no depths to the harshness of some people in dealing with their fellow Catholics. Incredible…🤷
 
LoveOfMan said:
In all reality, I wasn’t aware of this teaching. I probably have heard it before, just not thought about it.

My uncle is paralyzed from the waste down, sexual organs included. He served in the Gulf War, although his injury is unrelated. He is currently engaged. As a practicing Catholic, he has every intention of being married in a Catholic church. In effect - he’s impotent. I find it troubling that because of his medical state, that he could be denied the sacrament of marriage and subsequently be declared a heretic if he were to dissent from the teaching of the Church. It is evident that he is in love with his fiance, but because of his sexual impotence - he should be denied the love, companionship, and beauty of marriage. These are times where I find full communion with Rome especially difficult.

God Bless!
Click to expand...
My prayers for your uncle. And thank him for his service for me. I wish him a wonderful and blessed marriage. I think some here, would benefit from reading 1rst Corinthians 13. I will be coming home from Iraq soon. Let him know it is much quieter over here, thanks to the hard work he partook in. Peace :hug1:
 
benidict said:
Because he cannot reproduce and he is married, his soul is in danger? Really? I have heard some really half baked judgments on CAF, and some pretty hard core cruelty. but this one takes the cake. Amazing! There are no depths to the harshness of some people in dealing with their fellow Catholics. Incredible…🤷
Click to expand...
We meet again.
I refer you to the second post of this thread. That is a quote from Canon law which you and I and every other baptised Catholic is bound by.
Its clear you do not have issue with your “fellow Catholics” but with the teaching of the Church.

To the OP. Impotence is a socalled impediment to a valid sacrament, due to the intrinsic nature of marriage. I hope he will talk to a priest about this and also medical professionals in order to see if he is really impotent. - I know of a woman who is paralysed neck down but who has had two children after the violent attack that left her in that state.
The Church is not against companionship, however, the nature of marriage is such that being able to fullfill the sexual act is one of the parts of it.
 
benidict said:
Because he cannot reproduce and he is married, his soul is in danger? Really? I have heard some really half baked judgments on CAF, and some pretty hard core cruelty. but this one takes the cake. Amazing! There are no depths to the harshness of some people in dealing with their fellow Catholics. Incredible…🤷
Click to expand...
Do you really not get it. Are you unaware that Catholics MUST accept ALL Church teachings. Its not that caoindealbhan is impotent that endangers his soul. Its the fact he rejects the Church teaching that is heresy. Also see his other threads. He admits to rejecting many Church teachings.
By the way becoming impotent after you are married is not an issue unless you engage in sexual activities which cannot be open to life. Being impotent prior to marriage, knowing that and if nothing medically can be done to remedy it then the Church will not marry such a person.
 
thistle said:
Publicly admitting to be a heretic! That’s nothing to be proud of!
Your immortal soul is in danger.
Click to expand...
Once again, discussing people and not issues. Who appointed you judge and jury?

Way too many people in this discussions with throw out Biblical quotes and CCC references ad naseum, yet freely make accusatory statements and judge others.
 
If I were in this position, I would simply get married civilly. The Church, of course, wouldn’t recognize the marriage, but the husband and wife would be living as brother and sister so there is no “fornication.”
 
Warrior1979 said:
Once again, discussing people and not issues. Who appointed you judge and jury?

Way too many people in this discussions with throw out Biblical quotes and CCC references ad naseum, yet freely make accusatory statements and judge others.
Click to expand...
Thank you warrior. Its nice to have a little backup for once. Glad your on. It gets tireing, taking on the same Intoloerant people. It has also been my experience that the people who are the most judgemental, seem to have the most problems with the particular sin they are condemning everyone else for. They also refuse to see that by their actions, they are leading some younger, AND older parishoners to despair. So to supposedly save them from a mortal sin, they are endangering them with another. Suicide. Unfortunately, I get private messages to this effect, my self and others work with these wounded souls. and they were wounded by people such as we meet here at CAF. Also they were in some cases abused in a variety of ways by these PIUS folk. Peace to you and yours. 😦
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top