Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament and one of its purposes is the procreation of children. According to the Church, a couple must be open to having children for their marriage to be considered valid. This means that a couple does not need to be physically capable of having children to marry, but they must be open to the possibility. If a couple consciously intends never to have children, their marriage is considered invalid by the Church. However, infertility does not invalidate a Catholic marriage, and couples who are unable to have children can still have a sacramental marriage as long as they are open to the idea of procreation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic couples' obligation to have kids | Catholic couples are expected to be open to having children. If a couple enters into marriage consciously intending never to have children, the marriage is invalid in the eyes of the Church. |
| Marriage as a sacrament | Marriage is considered a sacrament, and one of the "three goods of marriage" is fertility. |
| Impotence and infertility | Impotence is a barrier to marriage as it prevents the physical consummation of the marriage. Infertility, however, does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage. |
| Procreation | The purpose of marriage is the procreation of children. |
| Marriage without children | Couples who cannot have children or are past childbearing age can still have a sacramental marriage as long as they are open to the idea of procreation. |
| Seeking guidance | Catholic couples who do not want children are advised to consult a priest or Catholic counselor for guidance. |
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What You'll Learn
- Marriage in the Catholic Church is only valid if couples are open to having children
- Infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering a Catholic marriage
- Impotence, however, does invalidate a Catholic marriage
- Couples who can't have kids or are past childbearing age can still have a sacramental marriage
- The Church teaches that marriage is a gift of self towards another, totally, fruitfully, fully, and faithfully
Marriage in the Catholic Church is only valid if couples are open to having children
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament, and as such, it is a holy union between a man and a woman, blessed by God. This sacramental view of marriage is reflected in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that the matrimonial covenant is a partnership for the whole of life, inherently ordered toward the good of the spouses.
The Church further instructs that marriage is not only a union of love between a husband and wife but also a life-giving union, as stated in the Book of Genesis: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). This belief in the procreative nature of marriage is fundamental to Catholic doctrine, and it is one of the "three goods of marriage," which are indissolubility, faithfulness, and fertility.
Therefore, for a Catholic marriage to be considered valid, the couple must be open to the possibility of having children. This does not mean that they must physically be able to conceive, as infertility does not invalidate a marriage. Instead, it is the orientation towards procreation that is crucial. The Code of Canon Law affirms, "Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage" (#1084.3).
However, if a couple consciously intends never to have children, their marriage would be considered invalid in the eyes of the Church. This is because their union would not be aligned with the sacramental nature of marriage as a life-giving covenant. The priest performing the marriage ceremony and marriage preparation asks the couple if they are freely, fruitfully, fully, and faithfully entering the sacrament, including their willingness to accept children.
It is important to note that the Church recognizes the suffering of infertile couples and affirms that their marriage can still be meaningful, full of charity, hospitality, and sacrifice. Additionally, couples who cannot have children for health reasons or are past childbearing age can still have a valid sacramental marriage as long as they remain open to the idea of procreation.
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Infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering a Catholic marriage
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament. The Catechism asserts the "three goods of marriage": indissolubility, faithfulness, and fertility. These "goods" are expressed verbally in the vows taken during the Rite of Matrimony when a couple declares their total and unconditional love for each other.
However, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage in the Catholic Church. The Code of Canon Law affirms, "Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage" (#1084.3). The Catechism acknowledges the suffering of an infertile couple and states, "Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, hospitality, and sacrifice" (#1654). Infertile couples can consummate the marriage, but they cannot conceive children.
On the other hand, impotence, either physical or psychological, is a diriment impediment to entering into marriage. According to the Code of Canon Law, antecedent and perpetual impotence at the time of the marriage invalidates the marriage (#1084.1). A marriage must be consummated. If the couple has reason to assume that the impotence can be treated or reversed, they may get married.
In summary, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering a Catholic marriage because infertility and impotence are distinct and different issues. While infertility involves the inability to conceive a child, a couple can still express their conjugal love for each other. Sacramental marriage is a gift of self towards another, totally, fruitfully, fully, and faithfully. While openness to life and the procreation of children is important, it is the orientation towards the task of procreation that matters, not the achievement of it.
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Impotence, however, does invalidate a Catholic marriage
The Catholic Church considers marriage a sacrament, and as such, it is a gift of self towards another, totally, fruitfully, fully, and faithfully. The Catechism asserts what are traditionally termed "the three goods of marriage": indissolubility, faithfulness, and fertility.
To enter validly into the Sacrament of Matrimony, a couple must offer their free and informed consent in the exchange of vows and also consummate the marriage in the act of conjugal love. However, infertility does not invalidate a Catholic marriage. The Code of Canon Law affirms, "Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage". The Catechism states, "Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, hospitality, and sacrifice".
If one of the spouses becomes impotent after the marriage has been consummated, the marriage remains valid. However, if one spouse knew about their impending impotence and did not inform the other before the marriage, there may be a defect of consent, which would invalidate the marriage.
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Couples who can't have kids or are past childbearing age can still have a sacramental marriage
According to Catholic doctrine, marriage is a sacrament—a sacred ritual that reflects God's intentions. The Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies "the three goods of marriage" as indissolubility, faithfulness, and fertility. These "goods" are expressed verbally in the vows taken during the Rite of Matrimony when a couple declares their total and unconditional love for each other.
However, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage. The Code of Canon Law affirms, "Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage" (#1084.3). The Catechism states, "Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice" (#1654). In other words, a couple can consummate the marriage, but they just cannot conceive children.
Therefore, while impotency presents a diriment impediment to entering into marriage, infertility does not. They are distinct issues. A couple who cannot have children or are past childbearing age can still have a sacramental marriage as long as they are open to the possibility of procreation. It is the orientation towards the task of procreation that is important, not the achievement of it.
However, if a couple enters into marriage with the conscious intention of never having children, the Church considers the marriage invalid. During the marriage ceremony, the priest asks the couple, "Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?" This question reflects the Church's belief that being open to children is an essential part of marriage.
If a couple is unsure about their openness to having children, they can discuss their situation with a priest or Catholic counselor. These individuals can help the couple understand their concerns and explore their options.
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The Church teaches that marriage is a gift of self towards another, totally, fruitfully, fully, and faithfully
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a gift of self towards another, totally, fruitfully, fully, and faithfully. This means that a couple must be open to the possibility of having children. If a couple enters into marriage with the intention of never having children, the Church considers the marriage invalid. This is because the Church views being open to children as an essential part of marriage, as reflected in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the marriage ceremony, the priest asks the couple if they are freely, fruitfully, fully, and faithfully entering the sacrament with their spouse.
However, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage. According to the Code of Canon Law, "Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage". The Catechism acknowledges the suffering of an infertile couple and states that their marriage can still be meaningful and fruitful in terms of charity, hospitality, and sacrifice. Therefore, while the Church expects Catholic couples to be open to the possibility of having children, it is the orientation towards procreation that is important, not the achievement of it. Marriages without children are no less sacramental as long as there is an openness to life and procreation.
The belief in the importance of procreation in marriage is rooted in the Bible. In Genesis, after God created man and woman, he blessed them and said, "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). This understanding of marriage as a vocation for establishing a family and procreating is further reinforced in the second creation account in Genesis 2:23-24.
Despite the Church's teachings, some Catholic couples may not feel called to have children. In such cases, it is recommended to consult a priest or a Catholic counselor to discuss concerns and explore options. While the Church emphasizes the importance of being open to life, it is also understood that there may be individual circumstances and challenges that need to be considered.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic couples are expected to be open to having children. If a couple enters into marriage with the intention of never having children, the marriage is considered invalid by the Church. However, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage.
If a Catholic couple does not want children, they should discuss their situation with a priest or a Catholic counsellor. They can help the couple understand their concerns and decide if they want to work through them. The couple may be more open to the possibility of children than they think.
The Church teaches that sacramental marriage is a gift of self towards another. Without an openness to life and the procreation of children, this gift of self is not considered complete, and therefore does not hold the ability to be a sacrament of God.
