Popes Who Abolished Divorce, Upholding the Teachings of the Gospel
From Historical Events
Popes Who Abolished Divorce, Upholding the Teachings of the Gospel
Pope Cyril (the 75th Patriarch), departed in 1242 AD.
During his papacy, a council was held to carry out reform and establish a set of canons. Regarding marriage, it was decreed that divorce was forbidden. Whoever divorced his wife and separated from her was excommunicated until he took her back.
A marriage could be dissolved only if adultery by the woman was proven, if both spouses voluntarily entered monastic life, if the husband corrupted his wife’s chastity, if either of them corrupted the other’s way of life, or if the marriage was one of the prohibited types previously mentioned.
Pope Peter VI (the 104th Patriarch), departed in 1726 AD.
This Pope enforced the Church’s canons and the commandments of the Gospel, abolishing divorce for the many reasons other than the single cause mentioned in Scripture. He discussed this matter with Muslim scholars, who wrote him legal opinions affirming that this was indeed the teaching of his faith and that no one had the right to oppose it. The governor issued an official decree in his favor.
A certain man, the son of a priest, opposed him—he had divorced his wife and married another without the Pope’s knowledge. The Pope ordered them to be separated, but he refused; therefore, the Pope excommunicated him, his new wife, and his priest father. God’s wrath came upon that man, and he became ill and died. His father, the priest, became fearful, repented, and sought absolution…
Pope Macarius III (the 114th Patriarch), departed in 1945 AD.
He convened a Holy Synod that opposed the many reasons permitting divorce and strongly attacked the 1938 Regulation that had allowed it, insisting that there is no divorce except for adultery, according to the teaching of Scripture…
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