In order for a Catholic person to be free to marry again, he (or she) must have obtained an annulment from the Church. To remarry outside the Church after having received a divorce (in accordance with civil law), prior to having received an annulment in accordance with Canon Law, such a person will then find himself in a situation of public and permanent adultery. [C.C.C. # 2384]
When a person is married a second time prior to having received an annulment, the Catholic Church does not recognize the second marriage. Instead, it views that person as one who is living in adultery. Such a person can no longer receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
12. Contraception Meaning Birth Control
It prevents pregnancy (conception) by interfering with the normal process of ovulation through the usage of a device, drug, or chemical agent.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil.” [C.C.C. # 2370; Humanae Vitae #14]
13. Divorce
“The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble. [Mt. 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mk. 10 9; Lk. 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10-ll] He abrogates the accommodations that had slipped into the old Law. [Mt. 19:7-9]”
“For I hate divorce, says the Lord… So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless.” [Malachi 2:16]
“Between the baptized, “a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death.” [C.C.C. # 2382]
“It can happen that one of the spouses is the innocent victim of a divorce decreed by civil law; this spouse therefore has not contravened the moral law. There is a considerable difference between a spouse who has sincerely tried to be faithful to the Sacrament of marriage and is unjustly abandoned, and one who through his own grave fault destroys a canonically valid marriage.” [C.C.C. # 2386]
14. Dowry, also known as the “bride price”
This is given to the bride’s parents by the groom, be it real estate, animals, property or money, as a payment for the bride during the planning of the marriage.
Dowry is unacceptable because it gets in the way of the bride’s voluntary commitment to give herself to the groom without outside interference.
15. Euthanasia: “Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, the sick, the elderly or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.”
“Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.” [C.C.C. # 2277]
“Living Wills” that order the withholding of one’s basic medical needs, such as food and water, should a person’s condition deteriorate to a certain degree, is condemned by the Catholic Church. Such Living Wills are viewed as a request to provide assisted suicide. Any person participating in such an act is committing murder. Both, the person committing suicide and the murderer, risk eternal damnation.
Euthanasia violently destroys the Sacrament of Marriage.
16. Female Infanticide
Also known as female homicide, is the killing of a human infant. In some countries, female infanticide is more common than the killing of male offspring, due to sex-selective infanticide. Such is found in China where parents are only allowed one child. Preference is for a male child, first of all to carry on the family name and secondly because a male can work and earn money to support the family while the female is considered a financial burden.
The Catholic Church rejects the practice of female infanticide because it opposes God’s choice of a child for the parents. Parents are expected to accept God’s gift of a child, be it male or female, without having to turn to murder in order to obtain one’s personal choice of gender. Such a crime is an offense against the Sacrament of Marriage.
17. Forced Marriage “Forced marriage”
It is the term used to describe a marriage in which one or both of the parties is married without his or her consent or against his or her will. In most, but not all forced marriages, it is the female who is forced to participate in a marriage.
The United Nations views forced marriage as a form of human rights abuse, because it violates the principle of the freedom and autonomy of individuals.
The Roman Catholic Church deems forced marriage as a ground for granting an annulment. For a marriage to be valid both parties must give their consent freely.
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