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Rence
Guest
As long as they are “open to life”, yes. Just because they are in their 50s does not mean they cannot conceive if God wants them to.
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Vico
Guest
Yes, what we think is impossible may not be, such as conception during menopause, yet being “open to life” does not obligate one to actually conceive, for it may be too risky to actually conceive, and infertility is not an impediment to marriage.
In terms of the marriage canons, they must answer yes to these questions, among others:
Are you consenting to this marriage freely, without force, fear, or doubt of any kind?
Do you intend a life-long marriage, totally faithful to your spouse?
Do you intend to give each other the normal marital rights necessary to have children?
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Ndehi
Guest
cormacburke.or.ke/book/Covenanted_Happiness/Chapter04.html explains this stuff at length.
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missyfatcat
Guest
Just out of curiosity… if a married couple has children together as a result of the union, do they have to keep them or can they give them up for adoption through a Catholic adoption agency? 
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Vico
Guest
A Catholic is obligated to raise the children in the Catholic Church. I suppose there are some situations where it could happen, such as a relationship where the couple separate legally and physically, but then the children have only one parent, and the parent cannot properly take care of them.Just out of curiosity… if a married couple has children together as a result of the union, do they have to keep them or can they give them up for adoption through a Catholic adoption agency?
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Seeking_Him
Guest
I don’t think the whole point of marriage is to have children and procreate. It might be a part of marriage, but it’s not the entire point of it. In 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 it says, “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.”
The passage above says to get married if you “cannot exercise self-control” or are “alfame with passion.” One of the reasons to get married is to avoid sins of this nature. If a person can’t get married because they don’t want kids, yet they’re “aflame with passion”, then they would be constantly running the risk of sinning by lustful thoughts or premarital sex. It’s like they can’t win either way.
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BBaller
Guest
I don’t remember our priest asking “Will you actively seek to procreate in order to fulfill God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply”?” What I do remember is him asking if we will be open to children in our marriage. To me, there is a difference: If we choose to abstain during fertile times in an effort to minimize our chance at conceiving because we do not desire kids, that is not contrary to rules, laws, etc. If we conceive despite this, yet welcome and accept the child, (and raise him/her as Catholic and all the other good things people have mentioned) how have we sinned?
How many validly married Catholic couples do not intend to have children, minimze their chances at conceiving by abstaining during fertile times, yet get pregnant, then love the munchkin more than anything? It happens.
There is a distinct difference between seeking to procreate and being open to children, even though each option may be gone about in the same manner (NFP, abstaining) It seems a contradiction that NFP is acceptable in some instances, but not all.
I didn’t read into the OP’s question that she is advocating ABC or any other method to prevent pregnancy. I read it as questioning how it can be wrong to not desire to have kids, yet remaining open to it if it happens.
How many validly married Catholic couples do not intend to have children, minimze their chances at conceiving by abstaining during fertile times, yet get pregnant, then love the munchkin more than anything? It happens.
There is a distinct difference between seeking to procreate and being open to children, even though each option may be gone about in the same manner (NFP, abstaining) It seems a contradiction that NFP is acceptable in some instances, but not all.
I didn’t read into the OP’s question that she is advocating ABC or any other method to prevent pregnancy. I read it as questioning how it can be wrong to not desire to have kids, yet remaining open to it if it happens.
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shaky
Guest
Hi Advocatus Fidei
Are these your personal opinions? Or can you show me where this is written in the bible?
I am 53 and have no children. I decided not to have children when i was young. when i was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I said to my self it was wrong for me to get married and have children.
It would be unfair now to have children i could die while my children would be very young.
I thought why should i inflict pain and suffering on them. because of my desire to bring children into this faulty world.
Also because it is my genes. There is a chance that my children would develop this cancer. So i denied my self Its a cross i have to Take.
Recently a women in her mid 40s has taken a interest in me. I am attracted to her She has never been married but she has got 2 children from 2 failed relationships.
When she had her last child the doctors had to remove her womb because she had a medical problem that would have killed her.
Would it be wrong for me to get Involved and get married. Because there is no chance she can have anymore children. Unless of course a miracle happens.
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ac_claire
Guest
Hi shaky. The poster you’re replying to isn’t here anymore. But I’ll try to answer…the Catholic Church teaches that having children is the primary purpose of marriage. Not the only purpose, by any means…obviously if you married this woman it wouldn’t be possible for the two of y’all to produce kids, so…you’d be excempt. The Church is nothing if not rational.
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