Divorce in Catholicism on grounds of adultery

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MaryM

Well-known member
Nov 25, 2022
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#1
Mathew 5 verse 32.
I find this quite confusing.
So for Catholics, can a person divorce their spouse if they have committed adultery?
The matter of fornication is the confusing bit for me. Some clarification would be welcome.
 

rrcn

Active member
Oct 15, 2023
440
138
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#2
What is the scope of your post? Are you Catholic?
They appear to have many extra Biblical rules that at times conflict with scripture.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
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#4
Mathew 5 verse 32.
I find this quite confusing.
So for Catholics, can a person divorce their spouse if they have committed adultery?
The matter of fornication is the confusing bit for me. Some clarification would be welcome.
With respect, you're asking mostly non-Catholics what a Catholic is "allowed" to do, which is a bit silly. You might as well ask an American what the gun laws are in Australia (hint: the laws are very different).

According to most thoughtful readers, the Bible teaches that a person whose spouse has committed adultery may divorce.

Generally, 'fornication' is used to mean sexual intercourse between unmarried persons, while 'adultery' is used to mean sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
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#5
With respect, you're asking mostly non-Catholics what a Catholic is "allowed" to do, which is a bit silly. You might as well ask an American what the gun laws are in Australia (hint: the laws are very different).

According to most thoughtful readers, the Bible teaches that a person whose spouse has committed adultery may divorce.

Generally, 'fornication' is used to mean sexual intercourse between unmarried persons, while 'adultery' is used to mean sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse.
Just wanted to ask what your thoughts are where physical contact stops short of sexual intercourse?
 

rrcn

Active member
Oct 15, 2023
440
138
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#6
Just wanted to ask what your thoughts are where physical contact stops short of sexual intercourse?
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. . KJV — Matthew 5:26-KJV — Matthew 5:28
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
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#7
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. . KJV — Matthew 5:26-KJV — Matthew 5:28
Didn't answer my question.

V28 is looking and not doing.
 

NightTwister

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2023
2,086
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Colorado, USA
#8
The Catholic church requires an "annulment" that is provided by the church after evaluating the circumstances. In practice, there are two reasons you'll get one. Adultery, and donating enough money to the church.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,917
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#10
Divorce is permissible when the reason is for adultery whether you are Catholic or Protestant.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,773
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#11
So for Catholics, can a person divorce their spouse if they have committed adultery?
Not exactly. Here is what their Catechism says:
"The Catechism says, “Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery” (CCC 2384)"

The Catholic Church teaches "annulment" (which for all practical purposes is divorce).

"That passage [in Scripture] might trouble someone who is divorced and remarried but who never went through the annulment process and received from the Church a declaration of nullity (i.e. “an annulment”)."
https://relevantradio.com/2021/07/what-does-the-catholic-church-teach-about-divorce-and-remarriage/
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
2,541
1,141
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#12
Mathew 5 verse 32.
I find this quite confusing.
So for Catholics, can a person divorce their spouse if they have committed adultery?
The matter of fornication is the confusing bit for me. Some clarification would be welcome.
by course, yes. but catholics have an "annulment" option which is Godless. in particular cases, an annulment may be satisfied by the judge. it says that the marriage should have never taken place in the 1st place.
 

montana123

Well-known member
Oct 9, 2021
854
286
63
#13
Mathew 5 verse 32.
I find this quite confusing.
So for Catholics, can a person divorce their spouse if they have committed adultery?
The matter of fornication is the confusing bit for me. Some clarification would be welcome.
They can divorce their spouse if they commit adultery because they broke the covenant between them and their spouse, or if they die.

There are many people who claim to be a Christian that divorce and it was not because of adultery, and they did not die, and then remarry, but if they do that then they are committing adultery the whole time they are with the person.

And how do you repent of it if you stay married for you would continue to commit adultery.

I do not think you can ask for forgiveness for remarrying if you stay married for how do you get away from committing adultery if you stay married.

It seems like you would have to divorce, and then never get married again to escape committing adultery, and repent for remarrying.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
13,747
113
#14
Just wanted to ask what your thoughts are where physical contact stops short of sexual intercourse?
Technically, adultery (or fornication) inherently involves intercourse, but obviously, a married person who is engaging in sexual activity with a person other than their spouse is being unfaithful. I would consider it grounds for divorce, but I'm not a pastor so my opinion will probably never make a difference for anyone else.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,581
3,616
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#15
Mathew 5 verse 32.
I find this quite confusing.
So for Catholics, can a person divorce their spouse if they have committed adultery?
The matter of fornication is the confusing bit for me. Some clarification would be welcome.
catholism is not Christianity..

No,, a catholic cannot divorce their spouse if they have committed adultry.. The catholic religion is not in alignment with the actual Word of God..
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,160
1,787
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#16
Two of the Gospels forbid divorce and remarriage. One contains the phrase 'except it be for fornication', but those who hold to the conservative view argue that it doesn't outright allow remarriage in the case of fornication. And none of these New Testament passages say a woman can divorce and remarry. The Matthew passage is about a man divorcing his wife, not the other way around. Roman Catholics go with the traditional view.

But there are some nuances. Marriages not entered into with the intention of marriage for life may not be considered accepted. Marriages between close relatives may be considered illegitimate. I'm not 100% sure on this, but historically, unconsummated marriages might not count.

Also, if a Roman Catholic marries a Protestant, if the Protestant is okay with children being raised Roman Catholic, a priest or bishop or whoever has the authority in their system to do so can sanctify it... or bless it... or whatever they call it, to recognize the marriage. But otherwise it is possible that such a marriage might be considered invalid.

There has been some 'corruption' where people get marriages annulled for various reasons. There have been cases historically where a royal will get a marriage to some reasonably distant marriage considered invalid and annulled. I read that a huge percentage of annulments are from people in the USA.

I remember back in the 1990's hearing someone talk about how one of his relatives was trying to get an annulment from a husband who was a drug addict from within the RCC. To me, this sounded like they might be trying to game the system. It was tough being married to this guy, so figure out a way to argue the case, but I just heard this second-hand and didn't know all the actual details.

If a marriage is between two Roman Catholics, generally the marriage is considered valid for life. If you divorce and remarry, you can be cut off from communion.

But I might say in some ways it is clearer and there may be less 'corruption' on this issue than with some Protestants. Some churches just accept any secular divorce whether it follows their own beliefs on divorce or not. At least they know what the rules are, and they don't accept a divorce on paper from the state if it doesn't conform with how they interpret the teaching of Christ on the issue. Not recognizing marriages to Protestants was a bit shocking to me when I read about that. That's a danger a Protestant marrying a Roman Catholic, thinking they believe in marriage for life, should be aware of.
 

rrcn

Active member
Oct 15, 2023
440
138
43
#17
I failed to mention, that this is a characteristic of "last day" society, sort of an indication of ungodliness.

[Mat 24:38 KJV] 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

[Luk 17:26-27 KJV] 26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

[Rom 13:14 KJV] 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,160
1,787
113
#18
I failed to mention, that this is a characteristic of "last day" society, sort of an indication of ungodliness.

[Mat 24:38 KJV] 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

[Luk 17:26-27 KJV] 26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

[Rom 13:14 KJV] 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
His audience would have understood, based on the Torah, that marriage is not evil. But weddings were a time of rejoicing and festivities. People were living normal lives, even having festivities, when the flood came.
 

MaryM

Well-known member
Nov 25, 2022
505
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63
#19
What is the scope of your post? Are you Catholic?
They appear to have many extra Biblical rules that at times conflict with scripture.
I am not Catholic but I have friends who are.
 

MaryM

Well-known member
Nov 25, 2022
505
299
63
#20
by course, yes. but catholics have an "annulment" option which is Godless. in particular cases, an annulment may be satisfied by the judge. it says that the marriage should have never taken place in the 1st place.
Annulment is a very confusing thing, to me. Seems just a way to bypass the rule.