Should Catholics support couple's second divorce?

[JaKael02]

**Should a Catholic support the divorce of a couple who is married for the second time? **

Assumptions:
Both individuals have a previous valid marriage recognized by the Catholic Church.
Odds of the couple reuniting with partner from the first marriage is extremely small.
The individuals in this case are Non-Catholics. All are protestant or Non-Christian.

Any knowledge of this would be helpful.

Thank you!

James

 

[1ke]

The Church’s guidance is that if they are validly married to others, they are obligated to separate. When minor children are involved, the pastoral response from the Church is that they live together in continence for the sake of the children.

 

[Rence]

**Should a Catholic support the divorce of a couple who is married for the second time? **

Assumptions:
Both individuals have a previous valid marriage recognized by the Catholic Church.
Odds of the couple reuniting with partner from the first marriage is extremely small.
The individuals in this case are Non-Catholics. All are protestant or Non-Christian.

Any knowledge of this would be helpful.

Thank you!

James

They are not Catholic and they are not seeking to be married in the Catholic Church. If their church allows it, it’s not for us to question the validity of it. They’re not Catholic.

 

[JaKael02]

The Church’s guidance is that if they are validly married to others, they are obligated to separate. When minor children are involved, the pastoral response from the Church is that they live together in continence for the sake of the children.

1ke - I remember you. Your the pro on these types of questions. So if I know of a couple in this situation; I should support the civil divorce then because I’m Catholic?

 

[1ke]

They are not Catholic and they are not seeking to be married in the Catholic Church. If their church allows it, it’s not for us to question the validity of it. They’re not Catholic.

Rence, this simply isn’t true. The truth of the indissoluability of marriage is God’s truth for all (baptized) people, not just Catholics. And, of course, even the unbaptized are called to live faithfully in lifelong marriage even though there are certain instances in which such marriages can be dissolved.

 

[1ke]

1ke - I remember you. Your the pro on these types of questions. So if I know of a couple in this situation; I should support the civil divorce then because I’m Catholic?

I am not a pro! But, the Church’s document on divorce and remarriage is pretty clear. Those in invalid marriages should separate. We cannot know that they are in an invalid marriage-- their first marriage(s) may in fact be invalid. Since they reject the authority of the Catholic Church they would have no way to find out.

If they are already in the process of divorcing, yes you can be supportive. I would be curious though, what you mean by “support”.

 

[BettyBoop416]

I guess it depends on what you mean by “support” of this divorce. If you mean providing encouragement to proceed with the divorce, that could be problematic for you as a Catholic since that would not be in keeping with Church teaching regarding marriage. If, on the other hand, you mean just being a caring, sympathetic friend to someone going through a tough time, I have a hard time imagining how that could be wrong.

*The truth of the indissoluability of marriage is God’s truth for all (baptized) people, not just Catholics. *

While we as Catholics believe this, we have to recognize that this a Catholic interpretation of “God’s Truth”. Many other religious traditions have a different understanding of marriage and divorce. As non-Catholics, it probably isn’t realistic to expect the people in this situation to adhere to Catholic teachings. Additionally, as non-Catholics, they do not have access to the Catholic tribunal, so determining the validity of any previous marriages from a Catholic perspective is not possible for them All they can do is following the teachings of their own religion (if any) or moral compass.

 

[Rence]

Rence, this simply isn’t true. The truth of the indissoluability of marriage is God’s truth for all (baptized) people, not just Catholics. And, of course, even the unbaptized are called to live faithfully in lifelong marriage even though there are certain instances in which such marriages can be dissolved.

I’ve never heard of the Church telling non-Catholic couples that they should split up and go back to their previous spouses. Non-Catholics are not required to follow Catholic rules and laws.

 

[1ke]

I’ve never heard of the Church telling non-Catholic couples that they should split up and go back to their previous spouses. Non-Catholics are not required to follow Catholic rules and laws.

Non-Catholics have no obligation to follow ecclesial law. The indissoluability of marriage is divine law, binding on all not just Catholics.

 

[Rence]

Non-Catholics have no obligation to follow ecclesial law. The indissoluability of marriage is divine law, binding on all not just Catholics.

Yeah…and what makes non-Catholics follow this law? A person who is, for example, belongs to the Church of Christ who gets a divorce (because divorce is allowed in the case of infidelity), and gets remarried, which is allowed by their religion, is not responsible for Catholic rules and laws. “Divine law” as defined by the Catholic Church is not the same as “Divine law” as defined by other religions.

 

[1ke]

Yeah…and what makes non-Catholics follow this law?

That isn’t an argument I made.

But what a Catholic cannot do is take the position you propose in your post where you state that “their church” allows it and therefore “it’s not for us to question the validity of it”.

A person who is, for example, belongs to the Church of Christ who gets a divorce (because divorce is allowed in the case of infidelity), and gets remarried, which is allowed by their religion, is not responsible for Catholic rules and laws.

You are missing the point. Our obligation as Catholics is to bear witness to the Truth.

They certainly ARE responsible for violating God’s law by remarriage.

“Divine law” as defined by the Catholic Church is not the same as “Divine law” as defined by other religions.

There is only one divine law, and we are responsible for bearing witness to it. We are not responsible if others choose not to follow it.