Divorce and remarriage (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Notes
Divorce and remarriage
What is divorce?
Divorce refers to the legal termination of a marriage through official court proceedings. For Catholic Christians, this topic presents significant challenges because their faith teaches that marriage is sacred and permanent. Catholics believe strongly in the sanctity of marriage, viewing it as a holy union blessed by God that should last for life. This fundamental belief shapes their approach to divorce, leading them to reject it as an acceptable solution to marital problems.
The Catholic position on divorce stems from their understanding that marriage represents something much deeper than a simple legal contract between two people. Instead, they see it as a spiritual covenant that reflects God's eternal love and creates an unbreakable bond between husband and wife.
Legal grounds for divorce in Great Britain
While the Catholic Church opposes divorce, it's important to understand the legal framework that exists in British society. Under UK law, a divorce can be granted when the court accepts that there are irreconcilable differences between the couple.
The legal system in Great Britain recognises several specific grounds for divorce, which differ significantly from Catholic moral teachings about the permanence of marriage.
The specific legal grounds that can be cited include several different circumstances:
- Adultery represents one of the most commonly cited reasons, where one spouse has been unfaithful to their marriage vows
- Desertion occurs when one partner abandons the other without reasonable cause
- Unreasonable behaviour situations, where one spouse's conduct makes it impossible for the other to continue living with them
- Two years of separation with both parties' consent
- Five years of separation even if one party doesn't agree to the divorce
These legal provisions reflect society's recognition that some marriages cannot be salvaged, even though this conflicts with Catholic teaching.
Catholic teachings on divorce
The Catholic Church's opposition to divorce is firmly rooted in biblical teaching and Church doctrine. Scripture provides clear guidance on this matter, with Jesus himself addressing the permanence of marriage.
Biblical Foundation for Catholic Teaching
The Gospel of Mark records Jesus saying: "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:11-12).
Jesus also taught: "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Mark 10:9).
This teaching emphasises that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery in God's eyes, making it morally unacceptable for Catholics. The Church also points to Jesus's words which reinforce the belief that human beings cannot dissolve what God has united.
The Catholic Church's official position, outlined in the Catechism, states that "Between the baptised, 'a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death'" (CCC 2382). Furthermore, the Church teaches that "Divorce is a grave offence against the natural law" (CCC 2384) and "Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society" (CCC 2385).
These teachings reflect the Church's belief that marriage serves not only the couple involved but also plays a crucial role in maintaining social stability and order.
Core Catholic beliefs about marriage and divorce
Catholic teaching on divorce centres around four fundamental beliefs that shape their entire approach to marriage difficulties. Understanding these beliefs helps explain why the Catholic Church maintains such a firm stance against divorce, even in difficult circumstances.
1. Marriage as a lifelong commitment: Catholics believe that marriage is designed to be a lifelong commitment, which means divorce cannot be recognised by the Catholic Church as a valid solution to marital problems. This belief stems from their understanding that marriage reflects God's eternal and unchanging love for humanity.
2. Marriage as a sacrament: Marriage is considered a sacrament - one of the seven sacred rituals through which Catholics believe God's grace is received. When divorce occurs, it breaks the solemn promises made before God during the marriage ceremony, which Catholics view as a serious spiritual violation.
3. Jesus's direct teaching: Jesus spoke directly against divorce and taught that marriage creates a unity between husband and wife, describing them as becoming 'one flesh'. This spiritual unity cannot be undone by human decision or legal proceedings.
4. Remarriage as adultery: Because Catholics believe marriage is intended for life, remarriage after divorce is not accepted and is viewed as a form of adultery. This means that divorced Catholics who wish to remarry cannot have a Catholic Church ceremony, as the Church does not recognise their right to enter a new marriage while their original spouse still lives.
Alternative perspectives and attitudes
Not everyone shares the Catholic position on divorce and remarriage, and it's important to understand these different viewpoints. Non-religious people, including humanists and those with secular worldviews, often take a more pragmatic approach to marriage breakdown.
These individuals may agree with Catholics that marriage breakdown can create problems within families, particularly affecting children and causing emotional distress. However, they fundamentally differ in their understanding of marriage itself. Unlike Catholics, they don't view marriage as a religious commitment or associate it with sacred vows made to God. Therefore, they don't believe that divorce involves breaking divine promises.
From this secular perspective, divorce may sometimes be necessary when a marriage becomes harmful or impossible to continue. They accept remarriage as a normal part of life, viewing it as an opportunity for people to find happiness and stability after their first marriage has failed.
Ethical arguments surrounding divorce
The question of divorce raises important ethical considerations that Christians grapple with in different ways. There are two main ethical perspectives to consider:
The Sanctity of Marriage Vows Argument: Many Christians argue that the promises made during a wedding ceremony are sacred commitments made before God. They believe these vows are intended to last for life, and breaking them represents both a religious and moral wrong. This perspective emphasises the importance of keeping one's word and honouring the spiritual dimension of marriage.
The Compassion and Human Wellbeing Argument: Some Christians recognise that Jesus taught extensively about showing mercy and caring for those who suffer. From this viewpoint, they argue that forcing people to remain in unhappy, destructive, or abusive marriages may not serve the best interests of the husband, wife, or any children involved.
This compassionate approach suggests that sometimes divorce might represent the most loving solution to a harmful situation. These Christians might point to Jesus's teachings about forgiveness and his concern for human suffering as justification for accepting divorce in extreme circumstances.
Annulment - a special exception
While the Catholic Church firmly opposes divorce, it does recognise a process called annulment in certain special circumstances. An annulment, officially known as a Decree of Nullity, is fundamentally different from divorce because it declares that a valid marriage never actually existed in the first place.
Key Difference: Annulment doesn't end a valid marriage - it declares that despite the wedding ceremony, a true Catholic marriage was never formed due to specific impediments or circumstances.
The Church has established strict guidelines for when an annulment might be granted. These situations typically involve circumstances that prevented a true marriage from being formed at the time of the wedding ceremony:
- One partner concealed important information, such as a previous marriage that was never properly dissolved
- The inability to have children, when this was not disclosed before marriage
- One or both parties didn't properly understand the full commitment they were making
- Significant impediments to the marriage that weren't known at the time
It's crucial to understand that annulment doesn't mean the relationship was meaningless or that any children are illegitimate. Instead, it's the Church's way of acknowledging that, despite the wedding ceremony, the spiritual and sacramental requirements for a true Catholic marriage were not met.
Key Points to Remember:
- Catholic Christians believe marriage is a sacred, lifelong commitment that cannot be dissolved by divorce, based on Jesus's teaching that "what God has joined together, let no one separate"
- The Church teaches that divorce is "a grave offence against the natural law" and that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery according to biblical teaching
- While UK law permits divorce for reasons including adultery, desertion, and irreconcilable differences, Catholics cannot accept these legal provisions as morally valid
- Annulment differs from divorce because it declares a marriage was never valid, rather than ending a valid marriage
- Different ethical perspectives exist, with some emphasising the sanctity of marriage vows while others prioritise compassion for those in harmful relationships