Polygamy

[tonsofquestions]

Is there a Church teaching that forbids polygamy? And is it a matter of discipline, or a matter of faith and morals?

 

[Godfollower]

2387 The predicament of a man who, desiring to convert to the Gospel, is obliged to repudiate one or more wives with whom he has shared years of conjugal life, is understandable. However polygamy is not in accord with the moral law." [Conjugal] communion is radically contradicted by polygamy; this, in fact, directly negates the plan of God which was revealed from the beginning, because it is contrary to the equal personal dignity of men and women who in matrimony give themselves with a love that is total and therefore unique and exclusive." The Christian who has previously lived in polygamy has a grave duty in justice to honor the obligations contracted in regard to his former wives and his children.

Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2387.

The first communion is the one which is established and which develops between husband and wife: by virtue of the covenant of married life, the man and woman “are no longer two but one flesh”(46) and they are called to grow continually in their communion through day-to-day fidelity to their marriage promise of total mutual self-giving.

. . . .

Such a communion is radically contradicted by polygamy: this, in fact, directly negates the plan of God which was revealed from the beginning, because it is contrary to the equal personal dignity of men and women who in matrimony give themselves with a love that is total and therefore unique and exclusive. As the Second Vatican Council writes: “Firmly established by the Lord, the unity of marriage will radiate from the equal personal dignity of husband and wife, a dignity acknowledged by mutual and total love.”

Familiaris Consortio para. 19.

But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband

1 Corinthians 7:2.

The Catholic Church has always taught that polygamy (whether polygyny or polyandry) is immoral. “Bible-only” Protestant churches sometimes disagree (e.g., Martin Luther allowed some polygamy if it was done in secret) due to their lack of Tradition, but mainstream Christian theology has prohibited polygamy ever since the Church was founded.

 

[tonsofquestions]

Thank you!

 

[Randy_Carson]

Is there a Church teaching that forbids polygamy? And is it a matter of discipline, or a matter of faith and morals?

“I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture” (Martin Luther, De Wette II, 459).