Everyone would love to have a happy marriage. Unfortunately human nature doesn’t always work that way. what recourse does a wife have if unfortunately her husband starts becoming abusive both physically and mentally towards her? I find it cruel if she is forced to separate without remarriage. What if after serious reflection she realizes that her former boyfriend has pity for her and the woman wants to marry him instead.
This is a question of apologetics
She should focus on living her vows. She took a vow before God, gave Him her word, it was a lifelong vow.
So did her husband. He’s not living his vows, that needs to be changed.
I would say her obligation is to try and fix what’s broken vice throwing it away. Counseling, both individual and joint; retrovaille (sp?), marriage encounter, medical evaluation…
As she’s trying everything to re-build the marriage if it becomes necessary to separate or divorce for safety/protection in accordance with the church’s teaching- then she should do that. If everything she tries fails, and admittedly her husband may not cooperate, then divorce and seeking a declaration of nullity prior to even thinking about any other relationship. She isn’t free to date until that time.
If she didn’t see this behavior in her husband prior to marriage, how does she know she won’t repeat the pattern with the former boyfriend? Grass is always greener etc.
This is where the nullity process is very helpful, as it can help a person to truly understand the past, their relationship, why it failed, what they missed/could have done better. And it helps them from rushing into something and very likely making the same mistakes. I had a friend whose mother got into one abusive relationship after another. Always wondered how she found those kinds of guys, and how those kinds of guys seemed to be able to find her.