I've been asked to pass this press release on. The Blessed Mother told Sr. Lucy of Fatima that the last battle would be over the family. Let us all commit to praying and doing penance that our bishops will step up to the plate. St. Joseph, Pillar of Families, pray for us.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Catholics are asking the U.S. bishops to drop the divorce mandate where dioceses require parties to be civilly divorced prior to the Church accepting a plea to investigate the validity of a marriage. In the United States, there are two kinds of institutionally recognized marriage: State marriage and Church marriage. The Catholic Catechism says divorce is immoral and a grave offense against nature and in only tolerable in very limited circumstances. However, dioceses instruct everyone who wonders if his/her Church marriage in invalid to first get a divorce of their State marriage.
Most state divorces are no-fault divorce where no distinction is made between abandoners and the party who did nothing grave to morally justify separation. No-fault divorce regularly rewards adulterers and gives scandal to children.
The petition was mailed Saturday to all the US Archbishops and the members of the US Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth. Bai Macfarlane, founder of Mary’s Advocates organized the petition, and she was joined by theology professors from Franciscan University of Steubenville, University of Dallas, canon lawyers, civil lawyers, priests, Catholic news commentators, and others.
Bai Macfarlane
Mary’s Advocates
2721 Wagar Road, Rocky River OH 44116
Published in Homiletic and Pastoral Review HPR
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ma.defending@marysadvocates.org
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I have great respect for Bai MacFarlane, and her proposal here is so needed. Below is a very unsatisfactory explanation from Catholic Answers as to why the Church requires civil divorce before beginning the annulment process. Alas, in effect, the Church encourages divorce, the very thing it claims to want to avoid.
ReplyDeleteThe Church does not officially require a civil divorce before accepting an annulment petition. But canon lawyer Edward Peters explains that virtually every tribunal in America requires proof of civil divorce because “many tribunals apparently fear that they can be sued by irate spouses for ‘alienation of affection.’” Peters thinks this reason is “quite unsatisfying,” but he holds that “a civil divorce is a practical way of determining that there is no realistic hope of reconciling the parties, something tribunal judges are required to verify as part of every tribunal case” (Peters, Annulments and the Catholic Church, 50). Note also that the Catechism states, “If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense” (CCC 2383)
Seriously? Bai Macfarland sent LesFemmes something for Mary Ann to post with a live DONATE button on it? That, to me, makes it look as if Bai Macfarland is fishing for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. On the other hand, I just ordered something from Bud Macfarlands website only to find I was inundated with similar pleas for MONEY. Suddenly I was being sent emails from 2 different sites connected with Bud Macfarland then a letter in the mail asking for money appeared! I finally wrote a very STRONG email saying that I had only wanted to order the one item, had never intended to donate a penny, to remove me from ALL lists, that I would never order anything from them again and for them to JUST. STOP. IT. I received back an email saying that due to my "strong opinions" they had removed me from their lists.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, having gone through a horrendous divorce, both civil and the annulment process, from my "Catholic" ex-husband - (now RIP) - I can speak to the Chruch's "annulment after civil divorce" statement from experience. An annulment from the Church means nothing to the State. While waiting 2 years for the annulment, would that process give me child support? No. Would an it provide my child's education? No. Health insurance? No. College education? No. Anything legal? No.
If one tries to obtain an annulment first, the Church can most certainly look forward to being sued by the other party's vicious lawyer who doesn't play nice with the opposite party to begin with. The innocent party can expect to have to hire an attorney for the annulment process itself then continue on with paying the attorney again for the civil divorce with all the financial negotiations, who gets the children, etc.
I prayed and fought, fought and prayed. I won.
Bud divorced Bai. Bai is standing for her death do us part marriage in hopes of reconciliation. Bai can only wish to be considered "they" with Bud.
ReplyDeleteBai's fundraising to encourage others to stand for their marriage is a worthy cause. There is a mushroom cloud of annulments in the US of late. Why?
Why? Because the Church no longer celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Instead, "the US of late" as you put it, and the entire world, celebrates the Great Ecumenical Picnic.
ReplyDeleteIf you truly believe that, Susan, why are you still Catholic?
DeleteI don't go to the Picnic. But going to the TLM makes me not a Catholic anymore? But nevermind. Obviously you do not understand what I said.
DeleteI guess I don't. You said "The Church no longer celebrates the...Mass." That's a pretty sweeping statement. Words mean something. Do you believe only the TLM is valid?
DeleteYou on purpose left out 2 words in order to twist my statement.
DeleteThat's a rash judgment, Susan. I did it for convenience. Putting them back in does not change what you said. In fact it makes it almost worse: "The Church no longer celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass."
DeleteThe two comments that were basically anti-Catholic screeds were relegated to the trash can where they belong. Don't bother commenting in the future. Similar comments will get the same well-deserved treatment.
ReplyDeleteI support this.
ReplyDeleteLet's have this battle.
Either you're Catholic or you're not. Either there's separation of Church & State or there isn't.
In the old days a couple desiring to separate had to meet with the priest/bishop. Living apart was considered a serious thing.
I saw it once suggested by a priest (I believe) that if couples went through the annulment process first many might find they have no cause for nullity and perhaps would strive to reconcile. Of course, this wouldn't happen in all cases. And if it's the other party pursuing the divorce no matter what you have to do all you can to protect yourself.
But once the divorce is final of course it's assumed there will be no reconciliation which then leads to the assumption there wasn't a marriage to begin with.
My "very" Catholic father divorced my mother but neither pursued annulment. They both knew they were still married.
Call me what you want. My credo today is that I'll believe what I want to believe. If Frank the Pope disagrees I don't care. If MAK or Deacon Donnely or anyone has a different opinion, go for it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not talking about opinion, Susan; but doctrine. What if a person has an opinion that's wrong? Is anyone always right? Don't we all make mistakes at time and hold wrong opinions? Does truth matter? Your position in your last statement is the same as the progressive left. I'm not trying to fight with you. I still consider you a friend. But words do mean something.
ReplyDeleteWasn't it Augustine who said, "Love God and do what you will"? Maybe what I believe is parallel with doctrine. Only God knows what I believe.
ReplyDelete