Husbands, here's some unsolicited advice from a married man on Ephesians 5:21-33

[Bernoulli]

This is just the explanation I was given, because like you I thought it would be strange to require a civil divorce when you don’t know whether or not the marriage is valid.

I think in case there is doubt about validity but the couple is willing to live together, they are advised to seek convalidation.

 

[Ammi]

You mean desire to be married? At least for a Catholic, I dont think “willing to live with each other” constitutes as a valid marriage.

Yeah, it would be silly to charge spouses for lack of consent, when both want to be married.

What is troubling to me, is the double standard of divorce. The tribunal will not investigate two Catholics who are separated, unless they divorce, yet the only justification for civil divorce is basically protection from physical abuse or financial neglect.

Why wouldnt the Church be able to investigate a separated couple’s marriage, since validity should influence whether a person should divorce or just remain separate?

 

[Bernoulli]

You mean desire to be married? At least for a Catholic, I dont think “willing to live with each other” constitutes as a valid marriage.

This advice applies to the case where the couple is putatively married and want to stay that way, but they want to address some doubt about the validity of the marriage.