SVreX wrote:
In reply to scardeal:
I agree that you correctly stated the Catholic Church's position. But I would suggest that the scripture opens the door to the possibility that some are not called to this life.
Vs 11 and 12 certainly suggest something different.
We agree, it's a big calling that not everyone can achieve.
So, based on the Catholic position, an annulment should only be necessary when a person seeks to become remarried, not divorced, right?
I also suppose that technically a wedding that was not performed in a church would then technically never have been sacramentally joined (they were joined by the State, but not joined together by God). Does that mean it would not need to be annulled? Honest question- not flounder bait.
(If it's not obvious, I'm speaking from a Catholic frame of reference...)
Yes, some are not called to the married life. There are certainly those who are called to ministry that precludes them from marriage, eg. priesthood, brothers, sisters, nuns, monks, consecrated laypersons. There are also those who are incapable of contracting marriage validly, eg eunuchs/impotent persons, those who are so severely mentally handicapped that they cannot understand or fulfill the requirements of marriage, etc. (The latter instance, I'm speaking of those like my wife's aunt who is in her 50s, but still has the mind of a 5-6 year old. A cousin of mine is developmentally disabled, but is able to hold a job at a supermarket. I would err on saying that he would be able to understand it enough. I wouldn't want to be the one to make the call on his case, though.)
There are also those who will be a better person living as a bachelor or "old maid".
I'm not 100% sure how to answer your question about when they should seek an annulment, but I think it prudent that they go through the annulment process before seeking to date again. Based on reports that I've heard, the annulment process, whatever the outcome, usually winds up being emotionally healing.
When a marriage is out of form, etc. (such as being a civil ceremony only) an annulment is usually a cut-and-dry case, but you still have to go through the process.
However, if you do have issues that include non-canonical form, etc., they can often have a dispensation granted before or after the fact, or if you get a civil ceremony, you can later have that blessed within the Church (sometimes pending an annulment, etc.).