Is civil divorce the same as a divorce through the Church?

[niko1823]

I’m uncertain of how the two are different. When you get married through the state it’s said the marriage is not a “real marriage” so to speak until you are married in the church. Well is it the same in the eyes of the church? What if one was married in a church but not through the state. I would assume the marriage within a church is far more important than being married by the state. Now comes my initial question for this post. Is it possible to get a civil divorce, yet not wish to pursue an annulment? as marriage within the church is far more important to me & my religion vs the state benefiting from my marriage.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The Church does not recognize a civil marriage as valid for Catholics. (It does for non Catholics.) However, the Church complies with the states’ requirements regarding marriage and ordinarily does not perform marriages in the United States that are not recognized by the state.

There are instances where the Church will allow a Catholic to get a civil divorce for the equitable division of goods that have been held in common. But it does not recognize the state’s ability to dissolve a valid marriage. (What God has joined together, let no man divide.” Mt 19:6 ) A Church annulment is not a divorce. It does not dissolve a valid marriage. It determines, after a thorough investigation, that an essential element for marriage was absent at the time of the wedding and no valid marriage actually took place.

I do not understand about the state benefiting from your marriage.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.