The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament and a lifelong commitment. Divorce, therefore, is not something that the Church recognises or approves of. This means that once two people are married, they are considered to be married for life, and that divorce is not an option.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptised persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”
Divorce, therefore, goes against one of the key purposes of marriage as set out by the Church. The Church does not condone divorce because it believes it harms both the individuals involved and society as a whole.
However, the Church also recognizes that there may be situations in which a marriage may not work, and that the parties involved may need to separate. In such cases, the Church encourages couples to work towards reconciliation, and to seek the guidance of a priest or other spiritual advisor to help them navigate the challenges of their relationship.
There are some circumstances in which the Church will allow divorced Catholics to remarry, but only if they obtain an annulment from a Church tribunal. An annulment is a declaration from the Church that a particular marriage was never valid in the first place. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as if one of the partners was already married, or if the marriage was not consensual or one or both parties entered into the marriage with a lack of free will, or when there was a serious impediment to the marriage, such as a prior commitment to another person, a lack of consent, or a lack of understanding of the nature of marriage. If a couple has an annulment, it means that in the eyes of the Church, they were never married. This can be important for couples who wish to remarry within the Church.
Another Catholic doctrine related to divorce is the idea of forgiveness. The Church believes that even when a marriage has ended, it is possible for the parties involved to find forgiveness and healing through the power of Christ’s love. This requires a deep commitment to self-reflection, humility, and a willingness to seek reconciliation.
Finally, the Catholic Church also stresses the importance of protecting the rights of children in cases of divorce. This means that parents should prioritize the well-being of their children and make decisions that are in their best interests, regardless of the status of their own relationship. This includes providing for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and making sure that they have a stable and secure home environment.
