Proposal of Marriage to an already engaged woman?

[Norseman82]

Well, when I approached her quite some time ago about giving things another try… she stated she still had “wild oats to sow” so I would have to wait.

If a woman said that to me, I’d be insulted and tell her to “hit the road - if I’m not good enough for your virginity, you’re not good enough for mine”. I’d have to be extremely desperate to take her back after that.

 

[ltbpoe43]

Wild oats to sow!!! She actually said that??

Run very fast in another direction.

There are many other eligible women of faith available who are committed to a pure and chaste engagement or dating relationship.

 

[bluerose]

Thanks for the tips everybody. I’m just going to play this one by ear, I will tell her all that I feel and leave the ball in her court.

I thought the ball was already in her court. Didn’t you say that you already told her how you felt?

The ball’s in her court. She doesn’t want to play. Game over.

I’m sorry, but I think you have to let this go. For your own good.

God bless.

 

[taylorfantino]

I thought the ball was already in her court. Didn’t you say that you already told her how you felt?

Not completely… there was too much shell shock that night to really communicate effectively.

 

[chevalier]

I am wondering how the Church/Bible may view this situation…

I’ll be giving private views. You may actually find something in Fathers or the Bible, but I have no idea.

Is there anything prohibiting a man from proposing to an already engaged woman?

No. Not specifically. However, there’s the universal Christian charity. Such an intrusion shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. At the least such a proposal should not be made frivolously or light-heartedly. Personally, I doubt I would ever do that.

Naturally, I would assume she could never be engaged to two people at the same time.

Naturally. Polygamy is against the natural law.

But if one were to break-off the prior commitment in favor of another is there anything wrong with this in the eyes of the Church?

Per se no. However, remember about charity. Remember about such vices as jealousy or greed or lust. Act with love, not out of selfish motivations. Acts defying charity will be wrong even if you don’t find a specific canon, Bible quote, Catechism rule, patristic writing, whatever such.