Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church has a set of laws regarding marriage, including the requirement that marriage should take place before a priest, preferably with a nuptial Mass. The Church forbids marriages to those within three degrees of blood relationships without special dispensation and forbids marriages at forbidden times, such as during Lent and Advent. Additionally, the Church has imposed celibacy on Catholic priests, resulting in the invalidity of marriages attempted by those who have been ordained. This includes marriages before ordination, as priests may not marry after receiving Holy Orders. While the Church Fathers of the Latin or Catholic Church did not condemn marriage, they taught a preference for celibacy and virginity. This belief is based on the idea that priests serve in the place of Christ, who was not married, and that by remaining celibate, they more closely model themselves after Christ.
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What You'll Learn
Marriage to more than one person is forbidden
The Catholic Church forbids marriage to more than one person. This is based on the belief that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman, established by God and endowed with its own laws and nature. The Church views marriage as a lifelong partnership that is ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children.
While the Catholic Church forbids priests from marrying, this is not a dogma, and there have been exceptions and challenges to this rule. For example, in the Eastern Catholic Churches, married men can be ordained as priests, but the marriage must occur before ordination, and a widowed priest cannot remarry. In the Latin rite, it is uncommon for married men to be ordained, but it does occasionally happen, especially in the case of converted ministers from other faiths.
The prohibition of marriage for priests in the Catholic Church has been a subject of debate and discussion. Some scholars argue that there is no clear evidence of a tradition or obligation of priestly celibacy before the fourth century. The earliest textual evidence of the prohibition of marriage for priests is found in the decrees of the Synod of Elvira and the later Council of Carthage in 390.
The reasons for the prohibition of clerical marriage are both theological and canonical. Theologically, priests are seen as serving in the place of Christ, who was not married, and by remaining celibate, they more closely model and devote themselves to Christ. Canonically, priests in religious orders take vows of celibacy, while diocesan priests make a promise of celibacy.
The Catholic Church recognizes the validity of marriages between two non-Christians or between a Catholic and a non-Christian, but these are not considered sacramental. Marriages between two non-Catholic Christians and between non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians are recognized as sacramental, but the latter case requires consent from the diocesan bishop, known as "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage".
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Marriage without free mutual consent is forbidden
The Catholic Church upholds that a valid marriage is constituted by the free mutual consent of a man and a woman, who establish a lifelong partnership that is inherently ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. This teaching draws from the Catholic belief that God himself is the author of marriage, and that the vocation to marriage is inherent in the very nature of man and woman as they were created.
In the 12th century, Pope Alexander III decreed that marriage is constituted by the free mutual consent of the spouses themselves, rather than by the decision of their parents or guardians. This decree was made in the context of clandestine marriages and youthful elopements becoming more common, which led ecclesiastical courts to decide which marriages were valid.
The requirement of free mutual consent in Catholic marriages means that marriages without such consent are forbidden. This consent must be given by both spouses, and it must be a genuine and unconditional commitment to the marriage covenant. The absence of free mutual consent in a marriage is a grave violation of the dignity of the human person and the sacred nature of the matrimonial union.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant that cannot be broken, and the absence of free mutual consent undermines the very essence of this covenant. A marriage without free mutual consent is not only a violation of the rights of the spouses but also contradicts the inherent orientation of marriage toward the good of the spouses and the well-being of society.
Furthermore, the absence of free mutual consent can have profound spiritual and psychological consequences for the spouses and any children involved. It can lead to a breakdown of trust, emotional trauma, and a distorted understanding of the nature of love and commitment. For these reasons, the Catholic Church emphasizes the critical importance of free mutual consent in marriage and forbids marriages that lack this essential element.
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Priests cannot marry
The Catholic Church forbids priests from marrying and has done so since the 11th century. Canonically, there are several reasons for this prohibition. Firstly, priests who belong to religious orders take vows of celibacy. Secondly, while diocesan priests do not take vows, they do make a promise of celibacy. Thirdly, the Church has established impediments that block the validity of marriages attempted by those who have been ordained. Canon 1087 states: "Persons who are in holy orders invalidly attempt marriage." This impediment remains even if the priest leaves the Church.
The earliest textual evidence of the prohibition of marriage for priests comes from the fourth-century decrees of the Synod of Elvira and the later Council of Carthage (390). However, some Catholic scholars argue that there is no clear evidence of a general tradition or practice of priestly celibacy before the fourth century.
In the Eastern rites of the Church, it is common for married men to be ordained as priests. Additionally, in the Latin rite, there are a few married men, typically converted ministers from other faiths, who are ordained as Catholic priests. However, it is rare for priests in the Latin rite or Eastern rites to marry after ordination, except in extraordinary circumstances. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, a man must be married before ordination to become a priest. A priest unmarried at the time of ordination may not subsequently marry, and a married priest who is widowed may not remarry.
The theological justification for priestly celibacy is that priests serve in the place of Christ, who was not married, except in a mystical sense to the Church. By remaining celibate and devoting themselves to the service of the Church, priests more closely model and consecrate themselves to Christ. Paul also makes a recommendation for celibacy in 1 Corinthians 7:7, especially for ministers, urging them to abstain from "civilian affairs" (2 Timothy 2:3-4).
Despite the prohibition, there have been instances of Catholic priests maintaining their clerical status after marrying. For example, in 2012, an Australian priest revealed that he had been secretly married for a year, and in the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, a priest kept his clerical status after marrying a woman he impregnated.
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Marriages between two non-Christians are not considered sacramental
The Catholic Church recognizes marriages between two non-Christians or between a Catholic Christian and a non-Christian. However, these marriages are not considered sacramental. In the case of a Catholic Christian marrying a non-Christian, the Catholic party must seek permission from the bishop for the marriage to occur. This permission is called "dispensation from disparity of cult".
The Catholic Church considers marriage, or holy matrimony, a "covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life". It is "ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring". Marriage is also considered a sacrament between the baptized.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws... God himself is the author of marriage. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures, and spiritual attitudes."
While the Catholic Church recognizes marriages between non-Christians, it does not consider them sacramental because they fall outside of the religious institution's definition of marriage. The Church considers marriage a sacrament, and as such, it is a sacred act that is only valid if conducted within the Church.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church has strict rules regarding marriage and that these rules have evolved over time. For example, in the 12th century, Pope Alexander III decreed that a marriage was valid based on the free mutual consent of the spouses, rather than the decision of their parents or guardians. This shift led to an increase in clandestine marriages or youthful elopements, which the Church considered "detested and forbidden" but still legally valid.
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Sex within marriage must be chaste and pure
The Catholic Church has a rich and complex history of traditions and beliefs surrounding marriage and sexuality. While some of these beliefs have evolved over time, the Church's teachings on the sanctity of marriage and the importance of chastity and purity within it remain central to Catholic doctrine.
In Catholic theology, marriage is considered a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, established by God and endowed with its laws. This covenant is not merely a human institution but a divine partnership that contributes to the well-being of individuals, families, and society as a whole. The Church recognises marriage as a sacrament, elevating it to a spiritual union that reflects the unconditional love of God.
Sexual intercourse within marriage is viewed as a gift from God and an act of love between spouses. However, the Church emphasises that sexual relations must be chaste and pure, serving the dual purpose of union and procreation. This means that even within the confines of marriage, sexual love must be expressed in a holy and self-giving manner, renewing the marital covenant that unites the couple.
Chastity, a central virtue in Catholic theology, is defined as the successful integration of sexuality within the person. It involves moderating sexual appetite and uniting the human mind with God. Unmarried Catholics are expected to express chastity through sexual abstinence, while married couples are called to manifest chastity through sexual love that is mutual, respectful, and focused on deepening their spiritual union.
While the Church does not provide a list of "acceptable practices" for married couples, it offers guiding principles to ensure that sexual love within marriage aligns with divine intent. These principles include self-giving over selfishness, treating each other as sacred rather than objects, and allowing love to control passions rather than the other way around. Adultery, or sexual relations outside of marriage, is considered a grave sin that damages not only the souls of those involved but also the institution of marriage and the stability of families.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church recognises the sanctity of marriage and the expression of sexual love within it, the Church emphasises that sex within marriage must be chaste and pure. This means that sexual relations should always be in alignment with the spiritual and procreative purposes established by God, reflecting the holiness and mutual self-giving nature of the marital covenant.
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Frequently asked questions
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".
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual love within marriage must be chaste and pure. It should be self-giving, not selfish, and deepen the spiritual union between husband and wife.
No, Catholic priests are forbidden to marry and must remain celibate. This is because they serve in the place of Christ, who was not married, and so they devote themselves entirely to the service of the Church.
Catholics are forbidden to enter mixed marriages without permission from a Church authority. However, if someone does enter such a marriage without permission, the marriage is still valid, although illicit.
