Divorce

[HNA444]

If someone gets a divorce, does that mean they would committing adultery if they dated after (and also for the other person)?

Since it’s a sin to get a divorce, and they confess after the divorce… what than? They are still divorced? Do they just stay single forever?

 

[Bookcat]

If someone gets a divorce, does that mean they would committing adultery if they dated after (and also for the other person)?

Since it’s a sin to get a divorce, and they confess after the divorce… what than? They are still divorced? Do they just stay single forever?

(I assume in my answer that we are speaking not of some irregular attempt at marriage that was later divorced…like the person who had attempted the marriage was actually married to someone else…or in the marriage there was not some other hugh obvious impediment like they were Catholic but got married outside of the Church…etc…such can involve other questions and aspects)

A person who is divorced…until such time as it has been determined that the marriage was invalid (decree of nullity …what is often called annulment …from the Church…not civil court) the marriage is still presumed to be valid …and so the person should not consider themselves free to date…just like another married person.

It is not always a sin to divorce (for example the couple is separated…but they need to settle things like child custody etc…see the Catechism)…but yes if it was a valid marriage they are not single …but rather married. Until it is found to be the reality otherwise (that the marriage was in fact invalid from the get go) or the other person dies.

Happily though…they can continue to live as faithful disciples of Jesus.

(even if they sinned gravely…when they divorced…they can repent etc and be restored to life).

 

[Bookcat]

Catechism:

Divorce

2382 The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble.173 He abrogates the accommodations that had slipped into the old Law.174
Between the baptized, "a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death."175

2383 The separation of spouses while maintaining the marriage bond can be legitimate in certain cases provided for by canon law.176
If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense.

2384 Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery:

If a husband, separated from his wife, approaches another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery, and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another’s husband to herself.177

2385 Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society.

2386 It can happen that one of the spouses is the innocent victim of a divorce decreed by civil law; this spouse therefore has not contravened the moral law. There is a considerable difference between a spouse who has sincerely tried to be faithful to the sacrament of marriage and is unjustly abandoned, and one who through his own grave fault destroys a canonically valid marriage.178

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P87.HTM

 

[smichhertz]

If someone gets a divorce, does that mean they would committing adultery if they dated after (and also for the other person)?

Since it’s a sin to get a divorce, and they confess after the divorce… what than? They are still divorced? Do they just stay single forever?

Unless or until a married person gets their marriage annulled then they are still married, and should not date or pursue anyone romantically.

I don’t think divorce is necessarily a sin. There are times when a couple can decide to legally separate. Spousal abuse is a good example.

 

[Warrior1979]

If someone gets a divorce, does that mean they would committing adultery if they dated after (and also for the other person)?

The key word is “dating.” From the Catholic Church’s perspective, unless you have an annulment, you are married, thus not free to date. If the question were phrased in such a way that someone was divorced and went to dinner or something with a person of the opposite sex, the answer would be “it depends.”

Since it’s a sin to get a divorce, and they confess after the divorce… what than? They are still divorced? Do they just stay single forever?

There are certain circumstances where civil divorce is allowed. The common one is spousal abuse, especially physical, whether it is to the wife or children.

As far as the last question goes, an annulment is necessary is order to remarry.

 

[Edward_H]

Not a sin to get a divorce.

Sin to remarry after a divorce, unless there was an annulment.

Society wants us to think that a divorce is the undoing of a marriage. It’s not. Divorce, I think has been referred to as a state of marriage, actually.

 

[puzzleannie]

If someone gets a divorce, does that mean they would committing adultery if they dated after (and also for the other person)?

Since it’s a sin to get a divorce, and they confess after the divorce… what than? They are still divorced? Do they just stay single forever?

when a couple who is validly married obtains a civil divorce and separates, that does not dissolve the marriage, they are still married so the cannot become romanticallyl involved, much less have sexual relations, with another person. Adultery is sexual relations with a married person not your spouse. So if by “dating” you mean what that word seems to mean in today’s culture, casual sex following some social activity, yes it is adultery and yes it is a mortal sin. If you mean socializing w/o ending up in bed, not adultery, but dangerous since it does not respect the fundamental fact you are still married (I am using “you” in the editorial sense, not referring to OP).

If they are believe the marriage was not valid from the beginning they have to option to ask the Church to investigate and issue a decree of nullity. This is not a “Catholic divorce” this is a legal decision that no valid marriage ever happened. They are now free to marry, since they really never were married.

What if the marriage was valid? yes if there is no hope of reconciliation they may never attempt marriage as long as the former spouse is still living.

 

[Warrior1979]

If they are believe the marriage was not valid from the beginning they have to option to ask the Church to investigate and issue a decree of nullity. This is not a “Catholic divorce” this is a legal decision that no valid marriage ever happened. They are now free to marry, since they really never were married.

Believing the marriage was not valid is not a requirement, at least to my knowledge. I went for an annulment believing my marriage was valid, yet was granted an annulment. I simply reported the facts, and the Church decided that various issues pertaining to my ex invalidated the marriage.

 

[Bookcat]

Not a sin to get a divorce.

It is a sin to get a divorce. Though not every civil divorce is sinful.

See Catechism for details.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P87.HTM

 

[catharina]

**It is a sin to get a divorce. ** Though not every civil divorce is sinful.

See Catechism for details.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P87.HTM

I read through the Catechism as cited by you.
It does not state what you have stated,
that ‘it is a sin to get a divorce.’ If you are viewing
a different version of the Catechism, please
quote the line you have claimed from that source.

Thank you.

PS - The Catechism is very detailed because it must be very detailed!

 

[Bookcat]

I read through the Catechism as cited by you.
It does not state what you have stated,
that ‘it is a sin to get a divorce.’ If you are viewing
a different version of the Catechism, please
quote the line you have claimed from that source.

Thank you.

PS - The Catechism is very detailed because it must be very detailed!

What I stated is the case…it is a sin. Though not every civil divorce is…

But read the whole section of the Catechism…there can be practical reasons for a legal divorce…etc etc

2384 Divorce is a grave offense…

2385 Divorce is immoral

To give just a couple examples…

Note though I immediately followed that statement with that fact that not every divorce is sinful…for example a “separated” couple may need a civil divorce for practical reasons (…unless their has been an investigation by the Church that found it was invalid from the get go…then they are no longer separated…the are seen as not married and usually free to marry) (the CCC goes more into things there)

 

[HNA444]

I found this on archden.org website:

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church Defines Divorce

"Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other until death. Sacramental marriage is the sign of the covenant of salvation, to which divorce does incredible injury. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery. If a husband, separated from his wife, becomes involved with another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery; and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another’s husband to herself.[2]

Furthermore, the Catechism states that divorce is immoral because “it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society.”[3]

So than, it would be a sin??

Also, what if someone was married for a short amount of time, (e.g. 2 or 3 months) and they got it annulled because of how short the marriage was, is that OK to remarry ?

 

[Bookcat]

So than, it would be a sin??

Also, what if someone was married for a short amount of time, (e.g. 2 or 3 months) and they got it annulled because of how short the marriage was, is that OK to remarry ?

Yes divorce is a sin. But again see the CCC…not all divorce is a sin…

As for an a decree of nullity…that means that it has been judged that that marriage was not valid from the beginning. Thus it was judged there was not marriage. So the person is free to remarry (all things being equal)

 

[catharina]

What I stated is the case…it is a sin. Though not every civil divorce is…

But read the whole section of the Catechism…there can be practical reasons for a legal divorce…etc etc

2384 Divorce is a grave offense…

2385 Divorce is immoral

To give just a couple examples…

Note though I immediately followed that statement with that fact that not every divorce is sinful…for example a “separated” couple may need a civil divorce for practical reasons (…unless their has been an investigation by the Church that found it was invalid from the get go…then they are no longer separated…the are seen as not married and usually free to marry) (the CCC goes more into things there)

It would have been more helpful to state this second statement
in the first place. Not every divorce counts as “sin” for those involved.

 

[Bookcat]

It would have been more helpful to state this second statement
in the first place. Not every divorce counts as “sin” for those involved.

I did. Please go back and read original post. I think your eyes read too hasty…as can happen

 

[catharina]

It is a sin to get a divorce. Though not every civil divorce is sinful.

See Catechism for details.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P87.HTM

Above is your original post.
You are making a sloppy point that
the Church in her compassion does
not make to those who are learning.
Far better to quote in detail than to paraphrase as you did.

"Divorce

2382 The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble.173 He abrogates the accommodations that had slipped into the old Law.174
Between the baptized, "a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death."175

2383 The separation of spouses while maintaining the marriage bond can be legitimate in certain cases provided for by canon law.176
If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense.

2384 Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery:

If a husband, separated from his wife, approaches another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery, and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another’s husband to herself.177

2385 Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society.

2386 It can happen that one of the spouses is the innocent victim of a divorce decreed by civil law; this spouse therefore has not contravened the moral law. There is a considerable difference between a spouse who has sincerely tried to be faithful to the sacrament of marriage and is unjustly abandoned, and one who through his own grave fault destroys a canonically valid marriage."

I do hope you can recognize my point.

 

[HNA444]

Yes divorce is a sin. But again see the CCC…not all divorce is a sin…

As for an a decree of nullity…that means that it has been judged that that marriage was not valid from the beginning. Thus it was judged there was not marriage. So the person is free to remarry (all things being equal)

Thanks Bookcat

 

[Warrior1979]

It is self evident that all divorce cannot be sin, at least in terms of civil divorce. If all civil divorce were a sin, the Church could not require as civil divorce prior to an annulment proceeding, as that would mean the Church requires a sin be committed prior to the proceeding.

 

[catharina]

It is self evident that all divorce cannot be sin, at least in terms of civil divorce. If all civil divorce were a sin, the Church could not require as civil divorce prior to an annulment proceeding, as that would mean the Church requires a sin be committed prior to the proceeding.

How wonderfully logical of you. :clapping::clapping:

Clearly no Catholic pretends to defend divorce.
However, just as clearly, not every divorced
Catholic bears any guilt/sinfulness for a divorce.

 

[Bookcat]

Above is your original post.
You are making a sloppy point that
the Church in her compassion does
not make to those who are learning.
Far better to quote in detail than to paraphrase as you did.

"

I do hope you can recognize my point.

No I do not recognize your point. It is not really valid here…for I had already given this information just prior…in this thread.

I was responding to a particular person who stated that Divorce was not a sin. It was a response to a post. So I stated that it is sinful and then immediately added that not all divorces were sinful.

Furthermore.…I sent readers to the full …very nicely explained text from the Catechism (again…)

I was not sloppy…etc…I* had already posted the full text*…and explained things in another post…just above the post you were concerned with…in the thread.

Have a blessed Lords Day!