Can you get married if you are infertile?

[Ignatius]

edwinG:

Hi Della,
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful , For they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means; " I desire mercy and not sacrifice…"
In both quotes it is Jesus talking.
So do you think it is more important to judge these people according to the rules of the church or according to Christ’s words. Be merciful, love one another, He has come to save sinners. Do you want His mercy?

??? Edwin, you’re logic completely escapes me. You are completely out in left field. This thread is about marriage.
Why would you get married if you only wanted to nurture, care for, or be merciful to a person? It is very important to have charity, one of the three big ones, and an important ingredient of any christian relationship; but there is no compulsion to marry someone in order to show them charity, love or mercy. This is one of those Nike things: just do it, you don’t need a liscense.

God Bless.

 

[YinYangMom]

I have a female cousin who had to have a hysterectomy at age 18 due to cancer. She’s in her mid-40s now and has never been married.

I wonder now if her remaining single has to do with her faith. What is the Church’s position on her situation?

 

[1ke]

Sunniva:

Bolded by me.

I need a clarification here. You say that *impotent *people can’t be fruitful and multiply. People who are *infertile *can’t be fruitful and multiply either. Infertile people can have a normal marital act as opposed to a permanent impotent person.

Is it you opinion that infertility (not permanent impotent) are an impediment to marriage?

No, infertility is not an impediment to marriage.

 

[1ke]

YinYangMom:

I have a female cousin who had to have a hysterectomy at age 18 due to cancer. She’s in her mid-40s now and has never been married.

I wonder now if her remaining single has to do with her faith. What is the Church’s position on her situation?

No, infertility is not an impediment to marriage. Infertility and impotence are not the same thing.

 

[AndyF]

Della:

Yes, so long as you can complete the conjugal act in the normal manner with your spouse.

Practically yes, based on faith nothing is impossible. I say get married and leave the problems to God. After all, even Abraham thought his wife couldn’t conceive.

If one has sufficient faith and asks, then he is sure to get a fish instead of a snake as promised. If the approval criteria is met and he receives a snake, the problem is no longer the requestor’s.

Andy

 

[ahimsaman72]

1ke:

They would not be able to do so. To my knowledge, impotence is not an impediment which can be dipsensed because consummation is required to contract the marriage validly.

These are the kinds of issues I find incredulous. Not being able to marry because of impotence is an incredible teaching I find wholly outside of logic and sensitivity.

 

[ahimsaman72]

deb1:

I would think that if you deeply loved someone you would want what was best for them. Being locked in a marriage with no hope of children and sexual fufillment seems cruel on the part of the partner with the defect.

What is wrong with two people who love each other simply wanting to be married and never be apart from one another?

 

[1ke]

ahimsaman72:

These are the kinds of issues I find incredulous. Not being able to marry because of impotence is an incredible teaching I find wholly outside of logic and sensitivity.

Marriage is not a right to be claimed as a child claims a toy “mine, mine, mine”.

It is a Sacrament given by God and received by those to whom it is given.

 

[Catholic2003]

ahimsaman72:

What is wrong with two people who love each other simply wanting to be married and never be apart from one another?

If that were enough of a reason for a marriage, then there wouldn’t be any reason for the Church to oppose homosexual marriage.

Marriage is between two people who can engage in conjugal relations as God designed those relations.

 

[ahimsaman72]

1ke:

Marriage is not a right to be claimed as a child claims a toy “mine, mine, mine”.

It is a Sacrament given by God and received by those to whom it is given.

It is a gift given by God for the benefit of the people. The marriage was made for people, not people for the marriage as a wise person made the comment, “man is not made for the sabbath, but the sabbath was made for man.” - same concept. Is the person more important or the law that surrounds them?

And, by the way, pledging oneself to another for all eternity is the farthest thing from “mine, mine, mine”. It is a proclamation of “you, you, you”

Peace…

 

[ahimsaman72]

Catholic2003:

If that were enough of a reason for a marriage, then there wouldn’t be any reason for the Church to oppose homosexual marriage.

Marriage is between two people who can engage in conjugal relations as God designed those relations.

God designed Adam and Eve to engage in those relations. The commandment to go forth and multiply was given to them specifically to populate the world - which God later destroyed. I never said those were the only requirements for marriage - just that that is the great beauty of marriage - pledging and surrendering oneself to another.

Homosexual relations are clearly forbidden in Scripture, both Old and New Testaments. I do not see that prohibition in Scripture for what you are claiming the Church teaches. It is also clear that marriage is between a man and a woman - “for a man will leave his father and mother…” I realize Tradition and Canon Law defines marriage in a certain way. I just do not agree with it. As a non-Catholic that is not surprising.

Peace…

 

[Lisa4Catholics]

edwinG:

Hi Della,
I hope you dont mind my tagging onto your post as my answer and following questions are not directed only to you but to all who wish to follow the “rules” of the Roman Catholic church. As I am not a Roman Catholic I dont have any idea of your various rules. I did hear on TV just after the passing of the pope that you have 2000 rules.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful , For they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means; " I desire mercy and not sacrifice…"
In both quotes it is Jesus talking.
So do you think it is more important to judge these people according to the rules of the church or according to Christ’s words. Be merciful, love one another, He has come to save sinners. Not the righteous in rules. The law looks after those.
Do you want His mercy? To obtain it you need to be merciful.
Is it an act of mercy to allow marriage to an honest handicapped person. Or is it sin?
Walk in love
edwinG

EdwinG first off if you think you can believe everything the TV says,well that is not prudent 2,000 rules you say So when did we learn the supposed rules?What are the alleged rules?Jesus also called for obedience Edwin,so where do you fit that in your personal interpretation?

 

[Viki59]

philipbenedict:

CCC 1654: Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life of full meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice.

Here’s a What if for you:
What if two people, one of whom is impotent because of a disability, get married in a Protestant church, go on to adopt children, and several years later convert to the Catholic church. If they have their marriage convalidated, is it valid? (Before you say, of course it’s valid because it’s been convalidated, it was only done because the priest was under the impression they could have relations, when they couldn’t.)
Would this be like the situation of an Anglican priest who is married and becomes a Catholic priest, and is allowed to remain married? Generally not allowed, but the church doesn’t want to break up a family.

 

[chadwilliams]

Viki59:

Here’s a What if for you:
What if two people, one of whom is impotent because of a disability, get married in a Protestant church, go on to adopt children, and several years later convert to the Catholic church. If they have their marriage convalidated, is it valid? (Before you say, of course it’s valid because it’s been convalidated, it was only done because the priest was under the impression they could have relations, when they couldn’t.)
Would this be like the situation of an Anglican priest who is married and becomes a Catholic priest, and is allowed to remain married? Generally not allowed, but the church doesn’t want to break up a family.

I believe it would be vaild because if you are not a Catholic, you are not bound by Canon Law, and it is in Canon Law where the impotency clause is found.

 

[chadwilliams]

Sunniva:

Bolded by me.

I need a clarification here. You say that *impotent *people can’t be fruitful and multiply. **People who are *infertile ***can’t be fruitful and multiply either. Infertile people can have a normal marital act as opposed to a permanent impotent person.

Is it you opinion that infertility (not permanent impotent) are an impediment to marriage?

(my emphasis added)

Again, I personally know of a woman who was deemed “infertile” by doctors. I mean they told this woman that there was “no way” she could have ANY kids EVER.

She now has two.

 

[1ke]

ahimsaman72:

It is a gift given by God for the benefit of the people.

It is gift to whom it is given. It is not given to everyone. CCC 1652:

“**By its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring ** and it is in them that it finds its crowning glory.” Children are the supreme gift of marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the parents themselves. God himself said: “It is not good that man should be alone,” and “from the beginning [he] made them male and female”; wishing to associate them in a special way in his own creative work, God blessed man and woman with the words: “Be fruitful and multiply.” Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to disposing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and Savior, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.

 

[1ke]

ahimsaman72:

Homosexual relations are clearly forbidden in Scripture, both Old and New Testaments. I do not see that prohibition in Scripture for what you are claiming the Church teaches. It is also clear that marriage is between a man and a woman - "for a man will leave his father and mother.

Finish the sentence and you will see that it IS in Scripture:

“… and the two shall become one flesh.” God ordained marriage to be the one flesh union between man and woman. To be one flesh requires sexual intercourse.

 

[1ke]

ahimsaman72:

What is wrong with two people who love each other simply wanting to be married and never be apart from one another?

Because as nice as that is, it is NOT the purpose of marriage. Marriage is a Sacrament, a vocation within the Church. It is not private, it has a public dimension established and ordained by God for His purpose.

 

[1ke]

Viki59:

Here’s a What if for you:
What if two people, one of whom is impotent because of a disability, get married in a Protestant church, go on to adopt children, and several years later convert to the Catholic church. If they have their marriage convalidated, is it valid? (Before you say, of course it’s valid because it’s been convalidated, it was only done because the priest was under the impression they could have relations, when they couldn’t.)
Would this be like the situation of an Anglican priest who is married and becomes a Catholic priest, and is allowed to remain married? Generally not allowed, but the church doesn’t want to break up a family.

It would be best to consult a priest and canon lawyer.

 

[1ke]

chadwilliams:

I believe it would be vaild because if you are not a Catholic, you are not bound by Canon Law, and it is in Canon Law where the impotency clause is found.

Actually, I don’t believe that is accurate. For example, a divorced Protestant wanting to marry a Catholic has to have the marriage examined by the Tribunal and a decree of nullity granted if they are to marry. The marriage of two Protestants is presumed to valid. Impotence is not an impediment of canon law only-- like lack of form if a Catholic marries outside the Church-- it is an impediment derived from Natural Law and therefore would be like a marriage of brother/sister or something similar… not able to be dispensed.

I think this would require a knowledgable priest and/or canon lawyer to examine.