Michael Brooks
Polygamy, or having multiple spouses, has been practised by many cultures throughout history. While the Old Testament of the Bible describes several instances of polygamy among devotees to God, most Christian groups have historically rejected the practice and upheld monogamy as the norm. However, some Christian groups have practised polygamy, and it remains a topic of debate among Christians. The Catholic Church teaches that polygamy is contrary to conjugal love and is a grave offence against the dignity of marriage. Nevertheless, some Catholics, particularly in Africa, have more than one wife, and the Church has grappled with how to address this issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's stance on polygamy | "Polygamy is contrary to conjugal love, which is undivided and exclusive" |
| "Polygamy is unacceptable" | |
| "Polygamy is not in accord with the moral law" | |
| "Polygamy is a grave offense against the dignity of marriage" | |
| Catholic Church's stance on marriage | "Marriage is between one man and one woman" |
| Catholic Church's stance on divorce | "Only death may dissolve a validly ratified and consummated marriage between two Christians" |
| Catholic Church's stance on converts with multiple wives | "The Church orders him to dismiss all but the first, and regard her alone as his true and lawful wife" |
| Catholic Church's stance on converts with multiple husbands | "A previously non-baptized woman who simultaneously has several non-baptized husbands can keep one of them as her husband while dismissing the others if it is difficult for her to remain with the first" |
| Catholic Church's stance on remarried divorcees | "How do we help them? How do we bring them to conversion? How do we allow them to receive the sacraments?" |
| Prevalence of polygamy in Africa | "Many Catholics (including catechists) have more than one wife" |
| "Many African priests and bishops are themselves the sons of polygamous unions" | |
| Prevalence of polygamy in the world | "2% of the world's population lived in 2019 in a polygamous household" |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic doctrine and polygamy
The Catholic Church's official doctrine is that polygamy is unacceptable and contrary to the moral law. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that polygamy is "not in accord with the moral law" and is a grave offense against the dignity of marriage. It is considered "contrary to conjugal love, which is undivided and exclusive".
However, the practice of polygamy among Catholics has been a topic of debate and discussion within the Church, particularly in the context of cultural and regional variations. For example, in parts of Africa, many Catholics, including catechists, have more than one wife, although participants are usually not vocal about the practice due to its conflict with Church teaching. The acceptance of polygamy in these regions poses a challenge to the Catholic Church, as it seeks to remain true to its biblical teachings while also adapting to local customs and cultural practices.
Some Catholic leaders have argued for a more inclusive approach, suggesting that the Church should amend its doctrine to accommodate members who practised polygamy before converting to Christianity. For instance, Fr Gabriel Ngbe, a Nigerian priest, has argued that Catholic doctrine should be amended to accommodate African cultural practices, including polygamy. He suggests that it is better to have multiple wives within the context of marriage than to have one wife and multiple girlfriends or lovers outside of the marriage.
The Vatican's synod on synodality document has also referenced polygamy as a pastoral issue, acknowledging the tension that some Catholics feel between their loving relationships and their belonging to the Church. The document highlights the demand for a more welcoming and inclusive Church that can meet people where they are and build authentic relationships.
Despite these discussions and regional variations, the Catholic Church's official stance remains firm in its rejection of polygamy as a practice that is contrary to its teachings on marriage and conjugal love.
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Catholic Africans and polygamy
Polygamy, or the practice of having more than one wife or husband at the same time, has been observed by many cultures throughout history. While the Old Testament of the Bible describes several instances of polygamy, most Christian groups have historically rejected the practice, upholding monogamy as the only acceptable form of marriage.
However, this is not the case for some Catholic Africans, who have more than one wife. In countries such as Kenya, many Catholics, including catechists, have multiple wives, despite this practice conflicting with Catholic teaching. This has led to discussions within the Catholic Church about how to address polygamy among its members.
Catholic bishops in Africa are seeking pastoral and theological ways to respond to polygamy, with Congo Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo announcing a four-phase plan to address the issue. The first phase involves forming a working group to identify key elements for responding to polygamy in Africa, with the aim of creating a policy document. The second phase will involve distributing the text to African Bishops' Conferences to examine improvements and proposals, as the prevalence and characteristics of polygamy vary across the continent. The third phase will see Catholic bishops across Africa approving and adopting the document's contents during the SECAM Plenary Assembly in July 2025. Finally, the fourth phase will include submitting the consensus document to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith for further theological and doctrinal orientation.
The issue of polygamy among Catholic Africans has raised questions about the compatibility of cultural traditions and religious beliefs. Some Africans argue that the Church should modify its stance on polygamy, citing Biblical figures like Job, Esau, Moses, and King Solomon as examples of polygamists. Additionally, some Christians in Africa view polygamy as a foundation of their faith, linking it to the fundamentals of their culture. They believe that having more wives leads to more children, increasing the family's chances of immortality.
However, the Catholic Church maintains that polygamy contradicts the essence of Christian marriage as ordered by God and is contrary to the equal dignity of human beings. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that polygamy is "not in accord with the moral law" and is a grave offense against the dignity of marriage. Furthermore, some African researchers and theologians have expressed concerns about the cultural aspects of polygamy, noting that it can be oppressive to women and viewed as a form of sexual slavery.
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Catholic conversion and polygamy
Catholicism, like most Christian denominations, upholds monogamy as the only form of marriage. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that polygamy is "not in accord with the moral law" and is a grave offense against the dignity of marriage. It is considered contrary to conjugal love, which is meant to be "undivided and exclusive".
However, polygamy has been and continues to be practised by some Christians. In the past, prominent Christian figures such as Martin Luther have argued that polygamy is allowed in Scripture, citing examples from the Hebrew Bible. In recent times, some Christian groups have also practised polygamy, particularly in certain parts of Africa. For instance, in Kenya, some Catholics have more than one wife, although this is not widely spoken about due to its contradiction with Catholic teachings.
The issue of polygamy among converts to Catholicism has been addressed by the Catholic Church. In the Council of Trent, the Church forbade polygamy, stating that it is not lawful for Christians to have several wives. However, the Church also recognises the challenges posed in societies where polygamy is common. During the Vatican synod on synodality, the topic of polygamy was discussed in relation to those who feel tension between their religious beliefs and their loving relationships.
When a polygamist converts to Catholicism, they are expected to adhere to the Catholic understanding of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This means that the convert must choose one of their wives as their true spouse, while the other marriages are considered extramarital relationships. The Anglican Church has a similar approach, allowing for the baptism and confirmation of a polygamist and their wives and children on the condition that the man promises not to marry again as long as any of his wives are alive.
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Catholic views on marriage
Marriage in the Catholic Church, also known as holy matrimony, is the "covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring", and which has been raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptised.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that polygamy is "not in accord with the moral law" and is a grave offence against the dignity of marriage. It is contrary to conjugal love, which is undivided and exclusive. This teaching is based on the belief that marriage is a symbol of God's relationship with his people, and that God's love is undivided and exclusive.
The Bible is full of marriage imagery, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. The love between God and his people is often likened to a marriage. For example, in Isaiah 54:5, it is written that "thy Maker is thine husband". The relationship between the soul and God is also compared to the relationship between spouses in the Song of Songs 1:1-4.
The Catholic Church recognises as sacramental the marriages between two baptised non-Catholic Christians, as well as marriages between baptised non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians. In the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained, with this termed "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage". Weddings in which both parties are Catholic faithful are ordinarily held in a Catholic church, while weddings in which one party is a Catholic faithful and the other is a non-Catholic can be held in a Catholic or non-Catholic church, but in the latter case, permission from the bishop is required.
While the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a lifelong commitment, it is important to note that some Catholics, particularly in parts of Africa such as Kenya, have more than one wife. This practice is usually not openly discussed due to its conflict with Church teachings.
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Catholic views on divorce
Catholicism does not recognize divorce as it considers marriage a "lifelong bond" or everlasting covenant. The Catholic Church views divorce as a sin, and those who divorce their spouse and remarry are considered adulterers. However, the Church tolerates civil divorce if there is no other way to secure legal, financial, or child custody rights.
Despite the Church's stance on divorce, divorced Catholics are not excommunicated and can still participate in church activities and receive the sacraments. Some parishes even offer post-divorce workshops to help divorced Catholics cope with the emotional and spiritual consequences of their divorce.
The Catholic Church does not recognize divorce, but it does offer annulments, which are a way to end a marriage by declaring it invalid. An annulment can be granted if the marriage was never sacramental, for example, if there were problems in the relationship from the beginning or if one spouse was hiding their true self. Obtaining an annulment does not mean that the marriage never happened legally, but rather that it was not valid in the eyes of the Church.
The Catholic Church's stance on divorce has been a source of confusion and frustration for many Catholics, especially those who are divorced or considering divorce. While the Church teaches that marriage is a lifelong commitment, some Catholics argue that it is unrealistic to expect couples to stay together for life, regardless of the circumstances.
Despite the Church's teachings, divorce rates among Catholic couples have been increasing, and some Catholics have been encouraging others to consider divorce as a viable option. This has led to a disconnect between the Church's teachings and the reality of many Catholics' lives, creating a need for a healthier dialogue between divorced and never-divorced Catholics, including the clergy.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Catholics do not have more than one wife. The Catechism forbids polygamy as a grave offense against the institution of marriage and contrary to the original plan of God and equal dignity of human beings.
The Bible records polygamous marriages and does not explicitly condemn them. However, it also does not explicitly permit them.
Catholics consider polygamy unacceptable and a grave offense against the dignity of marriage. However, there is debate among Christians about whether polygamy is allowed in the Bible or not.
Yes, some Christian groups have practiced polygamy, and some continue to do so. These include certain African Independent Churches, Mormon fundamentalist churches, and smaller groups.
