No divorce except for the cause of adultery
No divorce except for the cause of adultery
His Holiness the Pope did not issue a new decision, but rather drew attention to the teachings of Christ.
The only commandment repeated four times in the Gospel with the same meaning.
It is not the right of any human being, regardless of his authority, to change the commandment of the Holy Gospel.
Preventing divorce except for the cause of adultery preserves the Christian family united by a holy bond.
Whoever agrees with wrongdoing, by legislating it, justifying it, or carrying it out, is considered a partner in the wrongdoing and is condemned for it.
Every sin of adultery is an individual sin, but this wrongful marriage is continuous adultery.
Christ’s concern with this subject:
There are many matters related to marriage about which nothing was mentioned in the Holy Gospel. There are also matters that were mentioned only in passing references, but the Gospel gave attention to some essential points, including:
1- The sanctity of marriage and its being ecclesiastical (one of the sacraments of the Church).
2- The unity of marriage (no polygamy).
3- Love relationships (the husband’s love for his wife, and the wife’s obedience to her husband).
4- No divorce except for the cause of adultery, and no marriage for the divorced except for this reason.
Among these commandments, the subject of divorce received the greatest attention, because it is the only commandment related to marriage that was repeated four times in the Gospel, and it was not limited to its mention in the Sermon on the Mount.
There is no doubt that this intentional repetition has its purpose and importance, and makes us feel that this commandment must remain firmly fixed in our memory.
One teaching repeated many times:
1- It was first mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:32).
“It was said: Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. But I say to you:
Whoever divorces his wife, except for the cause of adultery, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
2- The same commandment was repeated in Christ’s discussion with the Pharisees (Matthew 19:3-9).
“The Pharisees came to Him, testing Him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every reason?…” Then the Lord said:
“I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 19:3-9).
3- The same commandment appears in the Gospel of Mark, in the same occasion of Christ’s discussion with the Pharisees. His answer was:
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mark 10:11).
4- The same commandment appears in the Gospel of Luke, with an important introduction in which the Lord said: “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.”
“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. And everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery” (Luke 16:17-18).
Our position toward the Lord’s commandment:
Who has the authority, or the boldness, to oppose this clear, explicit, and repeated divine legislation?
Who places his human wisdom above the divine commandment, changing and altering it as he wishes? Whoever this person may be, whatever his authority… the commandment is greater.
As Saint Basil the Great said, Paul the Apostle “dared to anathematize even angels” in this matter, saying:
“If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be anathema.” “As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be anathema” (Galatians 1:8-9).
There are matters that the Lord left for the Church to regulate. But matters in which God has given clear legislation, it is absolutely not the right of the Church to change the divine legislation. A priest, bishop, metropolitan, patriarch, or pope cannot change the holy divine law; otherwise he exposes himself to judgment and excommunication.
Clergy members—no matter how high their rank—are merely stewards who carry out the commands of their Master, and they have no right to loose or bind in contradiction to God’s law. They are only interpreters or implementers of the law, because “from the mouth of the priest the law is sought.”
A partner in the sin of adultery:
The priest who agrees to the marriage of a divorced person not for the cause of adultery is a priest condemned before God. Such a marriage is considered adultery because the Lord Christ clearly says: “Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
So the priest who approves this adultery, or who gives this adultery an ecclesiastical status, and blesses this adultery with his prayers, is a partner in this sin, because without him it would not have taken place… and he also gives peace to the adulterer’s conscience in his adultery…!
Every sin of adultery is an individual sin. But such a wrongful marriage, which God forbids, which Christ in the Gospel called “adultery,” is continuous, ongoing adultery as long as this marriage continues… it has its serious consequences and responsibilities. It is a bold violation of the divine commandment.
Justifications:
Some try to justify such a marriage with justifications of “human wisdom,” ignoring the divine commandment, or attempting to interpret it incorrectly, or justifying it in the name of compassion and mercy for social cases that require sympathy. We say to them:
First: We cannot have more compassion for people than the compassion of Christ, the giver of the law.
Second: Let us show compassion within the limits of our authority. It is not within our authority to change God’s law.
Third: Making divorce easier has led to the disintegration of the Christian family, the disregard of the holy bond, and the disregard of the teaching of the Gospel.
O brethren, your approval of the marriage of divorced persons for reasons other than adultery threatens your eternity. Why do you lose your eternity for this matter?! Be careful first and fear.
The commandment of God requires humility and obedience, not debate.
We will discuss with you all the justifications that some present, and we will also discuss the 1938 regulation, and we will mention the position of the Holy Synod regarding it.
We are ready to publish the opinions that reach us on this matter, together with their discussion in the light of the Gospel teaching, the laws of the Church, and the sayings of the Fathers.
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