The Catholic Church views marriage as a sacrament, a sacred and indissoluble union between a man and a woman. This foundational belief significantly impacts the Church’s stance when one or both individuals entering a marriage have previously been civilly divorced. A civil divorce, in itself, does not automatically invalidate a marriage recognized by the Church. The Church presumes a valid marriage exists unless proven otherwise.
Historically, the Church has held a strong position on the permanence of marriage, rooted in scripture and tradition. This stance underscores the gravity with which the Church approaches marital commitments. However, recognizing the complexities of human relationships and the potential for flawed unions, the Church provides a process for investigating the validity of a prior marriage. This process, often involving a formal tribunal, examines whether essential elements for a valid sacramental marriage were present from the outset. This includes factors such as free consent, intention to remain married for life, openness to children, and proper form (e.g., a valid Catholic ceremony). If the tribunal determines that a prior marriage was indeed invalid (an annulment is granted), individuals are free to marry in the Church.
