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Religion

2008-08-01 09:35:00

Marriage of Christians and unbelievers

Question: 2nd Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Does this mean a marriage between a “believer” and a “non-believer” is invalid?

Answer: The answer to your question is: YES! But your question is complex and requires explanation. In the context of St. Paul’s letter, he was addressing his converts at Corinth. These were first-generation Christians, who formerly had been pagans. St. Paul was advising his converts to give up certain pagan practices, which are incompatible with the teachings of Jesus. A pagan practice was (and still is) promiscuity and successive marriages, usually - but not always - with divorce intervening. The text cited in the question continues: “What accord is there between Christ and Belial (one of the devil’s names), what common lot between believer and unbeliever? Tell me what agreement there is between the temple of God and idols. You are the temple of the living God. . . . Let us purify ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and in the fear of God strive to fulfill our dedication perfectly” (2 Cor 6:15-7:1). The questioner applies this teaching to the matter of marriage. Certainly that was in the mind of the Apostle. Christians ought not marry non-Christians! Christians ought to marry Christians! This principle is part of Church Law, based on the teachings of Jesus and the above cited text of St. Paul. And that is because both parties in a Christian marriage share common ideals, particularly about fidelity in marriage, permanence of the union, rearing the children, etc. Sooner or later, in every marriage there arise differences between the spouses. When the spouses share the same faith and same moral code, there are fewer occasions for misunderstandings. And the Christian faith, shared with other Christians, can help quarreling spouses resolve their difficulties. However, it happens at times that a good Christian falls in love with a pagan, and they wish to marry. Without a common understanding about the principles of married life and how the children are to be raised, it is inevitable that such a marriage is destined to have major problems, that the spouses fall out-of-love, and probably break-up. That is why the Church requires that, before a Catholic can marry a non-Catholic, the latter party must be given some instruction about the Church’s (and Jesus’) teachings on marriage and family-life. The non-Catholic must agree to respect these principles for the sake of his/her spouse and their children. Otherwise, the required dispensation for a “mixed-marriage” cannot be granted. Only when the pastor or bishop is satisfied, that the non-Catholic party will not interfere with the Catholic party practicing his/her religion, can a dispensation from that ancient law be granted. If the parties to a “mixed-marriage” ignore the Church’s law, do not obtain a dispensation from the Church authority, and go ahead and contract a civil marriage, that marriage is invalid. As far as the Church is concerned, those parties are not married, even if they live together and bear children. Often, it happens that, after such an invalid marriage, the parties will approach a priest, and receive instructions and a dispensation to have their civil marriage validated by the Church. Understand clearly: the children of an invalid marriage are NOT illegitimate! Church Law recognizes as legitimate all children who are born: 1) in a true marriage; 2) in a putative marriage; 3) in subsequent marriage of their parents; and 4) when the bishop declares them legitimate regardless of the non-validity of their parents’ marriage. Let me explain nos. 2 and 4. A putative marriage is any kind of marriage recognized by the state and civil authorities. It is putative (“thought to be”) by everyone concerned, even though that thought might be in error. Occasionally, when the matter of inheritance arises and illegitimate children are excluded from the Will or by law, one of the parties concerned can request the bishop to write a letter granting legitimation to the children of an invalid marriage. Usually the bishop is glad to perform this service of charity and justice. Thereafter the children of an invalid marriage are considered legitimate in the eyes of both the Church and the State. Divorce or annulment of a marriage can never make the children of that marriage illegitimate. Sometimes quarreling parents will say: “We’d divorce, except that we don’t want to make our children illegitimate bastards.” That is an erroneous idea. No one or nothing can make children illegitimate, unless their parents never went though some form of marriage. If illegitimate parents are concerned about bastardy of their children, let the parents go to a Justice of the Peace and get married. Then, if they so desire, on the following day they can file for divorce. Their children remain legitimate.