Subnostr

Do non-catholic congregations still do annulments, or do they just issue divorce certificates for invalid marriages?

Or do they let the civil courts lead?

I can only speak for the OPC, though I don't know of any other Protestant denominations that issue annulments or certificates of divorce, either. That said, if you divorce someone for unbiblical reasons, you WILL come under church censure that could lead to excommunication if you remain unrepentant.

Also, if you are married to a professing believer and wish to get a divorce, it is expected that you will file charges against them with the church where you are a member. Only after the discipline process is complete, and your spouse is excommunicated after being found unrepentant in a sin that biblically allows for divorce will you be permitted to file for divorce without any negative repercussions, such as church censure against you.

As for annulments, I would need to hear examples of what you mean by unbiblical marriages. Like, marriages to a close relative or someone of the same sex? That would be examples of the marriage itself being sinful, and therefore part of repentance would include dissolving the marriage, which is no real marriage at all.

Personally, I also would prefer to see the State entirely out of the issue of marriage and divorce, but I also recognize that the State is often needed as a mediator in the case of distribution of common property, which is not properly within the purview of the church.

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Discussion

Laeserin 1y ago

Yes, same-sex or close relation.

Or something like finding out someone entered into the marriage without the intent to be faithful. Lying about your identity, hiding the existence of a previous marriage (or faking an annulment or divorce), an ongoing sexual relationship with someone else, willful exclusion of procreation, entering into the marriage under duress, would be others.

Catholics are quite picky about validity.

Dikaios1517 1y ago

Yeah, I think most of those would be considered valid reasons for dissolving the marriage, assuming the offending person is unrepentant.

Laeserin 1y ago

Catholics would say that these marriages might "null", meaning that they never actually existed.

Like, if you kidnap someone and force them to marry, then that marriage is never created. You were just mimicking a marriage, like actors in a movie, but nothing actually happened because you didn't fulfill the prerequisites for conducting a valid sacrament.

Sort of the way a non-Christian can perform baptisms that don't actually work.

Dikaios1517 1y ago

Oh for sure! Especially in regard to forced "marriages", same sex, or incest.

I also think there is a valid point there with marriages under false pretenses, such as going in with the intent to be unfaithful, false identity, existing previous marriage, etc. But again, I think we would look to see if some of these could be remedied via repentance first, so the marriage could be one in truth, before deeming it invalid.

Laeserin 1y ago

Well, you could always convalidate a marriage (they repent, are recatechized, and exchange vows again), where you're not sure. It doesn't hurt and the ceremony is healing.

Dikaios1517 1y ago

That's a fair point.

Laeserin 1y ago

Yes, I was looking at the Episcopal and Angelican sites and they seem to accept state annulments and divorces and then require a clergical examination before remarriage.

Which seems to be the minimum that a church can really do. Any less and it defeats the purpose of requiring clergy to preside over the wedding.

Dikaios1517 1y ago

Yeah, over here on the conservative Presbyterian side of things, we are a bit more proactive about examination, admonition, and formal discipline before the divorce or annulment is treated as valid, rather than only getting involved once a divorced party seeks remarriage.

Laeserin 1y ago

I think this is missing in a lot of congregations. They just sort of leave people up to their own devices and offer no guidance. Everyone wants to conduct marriages (the fun part) and then it's like... Yo, have fun with that. 🤙

Dikaios1517 1y ago

There are three marks of a true church:

1. Preaching of the Word

2. Right administration of the Sacraments

3. Church Discipline

Too many churches, especially Protestant churches, neglect the third mark.

Laeserin 1y ago

Nobody wants to the Meanie.

Dikaios1517 1y ago

"It just doesn't seem loving."

Laeserin 1y ago

We want to be nice. Everyone should like us.

Laeserin 1y ago

If we want to move all Christian marriages back into the domain of the Church (which would be nice), then we need a formal system there to take over this sort of judgment and administration. We have to reclaim the paperwork stuff, basically, and Elders have to get more involved.

And we really need formal paperwork because we intermarry between congregations and move around, and paperwork travels.

Dikaios1517 1y ago

Seems we have forgotten this:

"When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!" 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Laeserin 1y ago

#biblestr #catholic #christian