Sacredness of Marriage?

Question

The Catholic faith considers marriage to be a sacred, life long covenant between a man, a woman, and God. This is the reason that the Catholic Church does not allow a person who has left a first marriage (divorce) to remarry unless the first marriage is declared invalid (annulment).

Do other faiths have any kind of annulment process? If not, what does this say about the faith's view of the sacredness of marriage?

Zero Cool - Not sure what to say about your response. That is contrary to Catholic laws.

makemeaspark - that is indeed VERY dangerous theologically. That is a very quick and short road to heresy. If I am free to decide what is right and what is wrong, then I start playing the part of God.

preachertim63 - for a marriage to be valid, both persons must enter the marriage with informed consent.

If one or both of the persons was forced or pressured into the marriage, the marriage can be declared invalid.

If one person withheld information about himself or herself that would have made the other person decide against the marriage, the marriage in invalid.

If one or both persons were not emotionally mature enough to make an informed decision to get married, the marriage can be declared invalid.

Mark 10:11-12; and Luke 16:18 do not state that divorce is permitted in the case of adultery.

Answer 1

I am aware of the Catholic process for annulment, provided the person wants to remarry in the Catholic church. Most other Christian churches do not consider marriage a sacrament. It's sad.

I think though, that it is OUR views on marriage that are reflected in the lack of sacredness of marriage.

Unfortunately, thousands of Catholics are getting divorced every day, so apparently the church's views mean about as much as other denominations views in regard to marriage. SW

Answer 2

I don't know exactly how other religious denominations work this issue, but I DO know the catholic marriages are the only christian ones that don't need the intervention of a judge since they're already legal. And it is supposed to be a sacrament. But also is very unfair to label a divorced and remarried catholic as a sinner since not all the divorce cases are for vain reasons. Is why they have invented the annulment, to make some justice. But at the same time, is helluva hard to get one of those. It's sacred because it's a serious thing and a lifetime vow if everything goes well.
Adultery is NOT the only strong reason for a divorce, but also domestical violence, incest with the children, constant drunkness or drug addiction, gay issues... (if you know you're gay, then why marrying someone straight?), abandonment... I could fill up the whole page with powerful reasons to get a divorce.

I think the catholic church has a lot of issues to solve concerning marriages. I'm a catholic, just in case. Is why I know what I'm talking about.

Answer 3

According the Bible, divorce is a sin. Your marriage can only be acknowledged by God and your church as "anulled" under two conditions (and they must be proven); adultery and abandonment. The legal anullment process is a man-made doctrine.

Fundamental Christian churches will not (or shouldn't) turn their back on an individual if they were to get a legal divorce, and become legally married again to someone else. After all, you can just go to the justice of the peace and get the ceremony performed. However, they will suggest marriage counseling and prayer for your strained marriage, and will not perform a wedding ceremony under circumstances of an illegal divorce according to the Bible. God blesses the marriages that try to stay together and work through their hardships... even adultery.

Answer 4

Most people today, even Christian don't like to hear this but,...

Divorce is a sin, and God hates it.
God says that you are married to each other until one of you dies, unless there is fornication.

But fornication is not adultery, as most people think.
Fornication is sex between unmarried people. So it is very rare that anybody can get a divorce on these grounds.

But people do get divorced, and God will forgive the sin of getting divorced. But you are to not remarry, because then you will be committing adultery, as long as your first spouse is still living.

People say that God is a mean God (mainly atheist and agnostics) because he won't let them do what they want. The thing they don't get is that God did not put us here for happiness, he put us here for Holiness, and if you can be holy you will be happy.

People that say they are atheist and agnostics or whatever, are usually thinking on human terms, they need to quit being so consumed by themselves and understand that God has rules and we are to obey them. These same people probably said the same things about their parents when they wouldn't let them do as they wished.

Answer 5

My question to the church on that matter is how do you decide... that something you took vows to ... made a promise to God ..... then you sign a piece of paper and suddenly that never happened?
Getting an annulment is no different from a divorce... it is simply semantics... it "sounds" better to say we had an anulment.... if you were married in the sight of God and believe God ordained that marriage.....then signing a piece of paper does not make it legitimate anymore than signing a marriage license means your married.

Answer 6

Jesus taught that God allows, but does not approve of, divorce and then it's only allowed in the case of adultery.

Biblically, then, no man or church can annull a marriage. If they do, then I would argue that the biblical view of marriage holds it in even higher regard. Thus, denominations without an annulment process value marriage more than catholicism.

Answer 7

according to the only True faith, Divorce was not allowed in the Old test from God. However, because of the hardness of the peoples heart, God allowed moses to write a bill of divorcement for the people. Jesus says that except for fornication, you can not get a divorce. If you do get one, then you are to remain unmarried or be reconciled to your spouse. Apostle further said(being moved by the Holy Ghost) That if a brother or sister(A Believer) marry an unbeliever and they be pleased to dwell do not put them away. But if they be not pleased to dwell, let them leave. we are not under bondage in such cases.

meg michaels---if that is what you allowed to influence your decision to believe that the catholics are the "only true church" I would look at the catholic doctrine and see tht they once allowed you to pay for indulgences... hmmm, maybe want to recheck their "faith" and not allow myself to be deceived about the false teachings.

Preacher 2 B--- might want to recheck about not being able to remarry... Apostle Paul clearly says that if the unbelieving spous is not pleased to dwell, let them depart.... a believer is not under bondage in such cases

Answer 8

I would not make conclusions about others faith on this basis. Many of the protestant denominations are basing their standards on the freedom of each believer to make their own conclusions.

Though this is very theologically dangerous, it also bears a lot of good fruit in creativity and openness to the leadings of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 9

Most have allowed the government to dictate marriage. It has become a largely civil matter among most protestant Christians. The sacredness of marriage was lost when the government was allowed to define the terms.

Answer 10

That the Catholic Church is the only Christian body that takes the words of Christ on marriage seriously helped convince me it is the One True Church.