Divorces in history?

[Inity]

Greetings:

We were discussing divorces in historical perspective with one orthodox lady, and she said that there were divorces in Catholic Church, in the past, when people were granted divorces by the Pope in some causes; especially these things were allowed for the kings and other noble persons. She didn’t provide exact names (and I remember only the opposite cause, about that famous king who started Anglican Church when was denied to remarry =), and I’m not a great specialist in this aspect of history. Wikipedia article about divorce didn’t help much.
I’m mostly interested in middle ages/renaissance period, but historical overview of more extended period will be useful.

Did divorces for catholics ever exist in the past, or all the cases of “divorces” we know from history were actually separations and annulments only?

And, did such cases exist in Catholic church in the past, when one spouse was going to the monastery, and other continued secular life, or even was allowed to remarry? As far as I know, such things were happening in medieval Russian Orthodoxy.
…
I’ve read list of reasons that may allow divorces in Orthodox church (in russian Wikipedia article), and it was quite sad to see, because there is really large list. If a spouse leaves the Orthodoxy, or gets arrested with confiscation of property, or becomes infected with certain diseases such as HIV, or becomes chronical alcoholic or drug addict, or if wife makes an abortion without her husband’s permission… - all these would be appropriate reasons to allow divorce.
I guess that Orthodox laws about divorces were always “softer” than Catholic.

But as I said, I’m asking about history and the past, not present days. Help from someone with good knowledge of history would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[DavidFilmer]

We were discussing divorces in historical perspective with one orthodox lady, and she said that there were divorces in Catholic Church, in the past, when people were granted divorces by the Pope in some causes; especially these things were allowed for the kings and other noble persons.

No Pope has ever granted a “divorce” as understood in secular terms (ie, to void a valid marriage).

There have been Popes who have granted annulments (ie, opinion that the particular marriage was not ever valid in the first place). In some cases, this decision was viewed as politically motivated (notably in the case of Louis XII of France), or its refusal politically un-motivated (notably this Anglican monarch, Henry VIII).

Maybe one Pope was "right: and the othe “wrong.” Or maybe they were both right, or both wrong. It doesn’t really matter to a Catholic - a Papal annulmenent is not a matter of doctrine for the Faithful. A Pope could be (or not be) completely in error about such a thing, and it wouldn’t matter a fig to the Chruch.

 

[mardukm]

Maybe one Pope was "right: and the othe “wrong.” Or maybe they were both right, or both wrong. It doesn’t really matter to a Catholic - a Papal annulmenent is not a matter of doctrine for the Faithful. A Pope could be (or not be) completely in error about such a thing, and it wouldn’t matter a fig to the Chruch.

The indissolubility of marriage is a de fide belief of the Church, officially adhered to by both the Catholic Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Chuches. I am not certain about ACOE. The EO do not count the indissolubility of marriage as a formal doctrine.

In other words, it is a mater of faith.

In any case, there are perhaps 2 instances in the Church of divorce and remarriage being permitted. IMHO, these were not volitional permissions by the ecclesiastical authorities, but FORCED to be accepted by the secular ruler. During many times in the Middle Ages, the Church was little more than the puppet of the secular authority.

Blessings,
Marduk

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[DavidFilmer]

The indissolubility of marriage is a de fide belief of the Church,

True.

The point I was making, though, is that an annulment is not a statement of doctrine. It is possible for Church authority (even a Pope) to grant an annulment in error (ie, the marriage really *was *valid), or to withhold an annulment in error.

 

[Evan]

Marriage is both a contract (legal union of assets) and a covenant (vow to unity where God is involved in the marriage).

A divorce ends the contract. It allows married people to live separately and to protect spouse and children from an abusive spouse. In these days of no-fault divorce, it allows an ordered division of capital. It has no effect on the marriage.

If you wish to petition for an anullment, the first step is a civil divorce.

What is disallowed by the Church is bigamy, being married to two people.

Since divorce does not have any effect on a covenant, one cannot remarry after a divorce. The only way one can “remarry” in the Church is if you are not married. So a decree of nullity of the covenantal nature of an initial contract of marriage must be obtained.

Divorces in civil law, sure, in the Church… not something the church does.