Doctrinaire teaching on marriage

In Why Divine Laws Must Be Respected, Mgr Anton Gauci categorically states that the Catholic teaching on the indissolubility of marriage is a dogma of our religion (June 15). I assume he considers this matter either as definitive dogma or definitive teaching. I maintain it is neither.

As in his previous contributions on the indissolubility of marriage, his line of argument is based on the Council of Trent’s teaching on marriage. Mgr Gauci seems to be out of sync with authoritative scriptural, patristic, sacramental, moral and canonical materials.

In his January 2000 address to the Rota, John Paul II affirmed that other marriages, meaning other than ratified and consummated marriages, can be dissolved not only by virtue of the Pauline privilege but also by the Roman Pontiff in virtue of his ministerial power.

The 1978 International Theological Commission’s statement on marriage included an important caveat about the Council of Trent’s declaration on marriage in canon seven. At Trent the bishops were focused on refuting the teaching of the Reformers, especially Luther, in his denial of the Church’s authority on marriage. The Commission explicitly asserts: “It cannot be said then that the council had the intention of solemnly defining marriage’s indissolubility as a truth of faith.”

The Catholic Church took a conciliatory approach at Vatican Council II when it openly accepted the validity of the sacraments administered by its eastern Churches. The separated eastern Churches regard divorce and remarriage as an exceptional concession to human brokenness, living as we do in a fallen world. Mgr Gauci insists on rigid, unrealistic moral standards. He is oblivious to the fact that internalisation of extremely rigid ecclesiastical values leads some Catholics to be critical and severe in evaluating their own behaviour – they develop a severe conscience. Often, too, this results in “infantile conscience”, in that the individual blindly accepts the moral standards s/he has been taught and dares not attempt an evaluation of their merits.

There are other Catholics who rebel against rigid, unrealistic moral imperatives and go to the other extreme, thereby lapsing from their faith.

I argue that the present teaching of the Church on the indissolubility of marriage is authoritative doctrine that calls for submission of mind and will. Like all authoritative teachings it is to be granted a presumption of trust. However, a presumption is just that, it stands unless there is solid evidence that brings the presumption into doubt. Hence, the need for an informed conscience.