What The Catholic Church Teaches About Divorce & Annulments

Hi Ryan,
The podcast attached includes a few questionable statements that may lead to confusion and lead some to approach the Eucharist when they are not properly disposed. You answer Ryan’s statement about a friend who does not have a Decree of Nullity and is frustrated because he can’t date with ” He can date.. he just can’t marry and must remain chaste? (25:24 in the podcast). Does the Catholic Church really teach a married man can date? Without a Decree of Nullity the man is still in a Sacramental Marriage to his civil ex-wife. This statement is not correct.

The Church does not recognize civil divorce except as a way of protecting assets or children from danger. You also mention incorrectly that raising kids Catholic could make Divorce OK with the church. I can’t find that statement in Canon Law… Canon Law speaks to “separation with the bond remaining” but you left an incorrect impression here as well since it “Always” expects married life to continue when the danger is no longer present…. . ( Canon 1153.1 A spouse who occasions grave danger of soul or body to the other or to the children, or otherwise makes the common life unduly difficult, provides the other spouse with a reason to leave, either by a decree of the local Ordinary or, if there is danger in delay, even on his or her own authority.
*****Canon 1153.2 In all cases, when the reason for separation ceases, the common conjugal life is to be restored, unless otherwise provided by ecclesiastical authority) The Catechism also does not mention raising the kids Catholic… it speaks of care for the children… as with protecting assets and providing for food, as a reason for civil divorce, not teaching the faith…. the Catechism also does not mention this… 2383 The separation of spouses while maintaining the marriage bond can be legitimate in certain cases provided for by canon law. 176 If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense.)

Father Rich also answered “Yes” when you stated that a divorced person may receive the Eucharist as long as they aren’t remarried. The Catechism states that divorce is a grave offense (no mention of remarriage until later where it “adds to the Gravity ( not creates it…)” The following section also defines an innocent party, further showing that one who files for divorce very likely could be in a state of sin or mortal sin (grave offense is signal of mortal sin). The Catechism is very clear on one being responsible for a sin if they know they should check but choose not to. (1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.”59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits. ) Since the vows one speaks and the Nuptial Blessing include the teaching that marriage is forever and let no man undo what God has joined they can’t say they did not know. If one is abandoned (does not file) by a spouse then they certainly are in proper disposition to receive the Eucharist. A Catholic spouse who files for divorce may be in a state of mortal sin. If a decree of nulity is not granted then that further increases this possibility. Divorce is the Grave Offense, with or without remarriage.

I hope you will amend the podcast or edit to properly explain what the Catholic Church, the Catechism and Canon Law say on these subjects.