S/O Of Stellavore\'s S/O in General Discussion

[LisaC]

Who created/instituted "annulments"? The Church or the Bible? Everything I'm reading says that annulments were created by the Catholic Church as a way to dissolve a marriage without a divorce. This is where I need help because that makes it sound like the church just simply came up with a way to dissolve a marriage without actually calling it a divorce... Insight??

An annulment does not dissolve a marriage. It states that a marriage never existed in the first place--that there was some circumstance which prevented one or both parties from freely choosing this vocation. It is not always granted. Sometimes no such circumstance existed.

But if two people make a covenant before God, how can the church say that it never existed? I'm trying to learn something new here so please bear with my ignorance...

Don't worry. I will try to answer your questions as best I can without messing up too much. )

First of all, the Church does not/could not ever go up to two unsuspecting Catholics on the street and say that their Sacraments never existed. In the case of an annulment, however, it is the two people themselves who go before the Church and say that the Sacrament never existed. It is up to the Church to either confirm that or let the couple know that the Sacrament does, in fact, exist. Do you see the difference?

I see what you're saying, but I'm not sure I get where the church's authority is in this. How can the church confirm or deny that the Sacrament exists - I can't find a reference where the Bible gives the Church the authority to do that (or does it?)???? :dunno

 

[Genevieve]

Who created/instituted "annulments"? The Church or the Bible? Everything I'm reading says that annulments were created by the Catholic Church as a way to dissolve a marriage without a divorce. This is where I need help because that makes it sound like the church just simply came up with a way to dissolve a marriage without actually calling it a divorce... Insight??

An annulment does not dissolve a marriage. It states that a marriage never existed in the first place--that there was some circumstance which prevented one or both parties from freely choosing this vocation. It is not always granted. Sometimes no such circumstance existed.

But if two people make a covenant before God, how can the church say that it never existed? I'm trying to learn something new here so please bear with my ignorance...

Don't worry. I will try to answer your questions as best I can without messing up too much. )

First of all, the Church does not/could not ever go up to two unsuspecting Catholics on the street and say that their Sacraments never existed. In the case of an annulment, however, it is the two people themselves who go before the Church and say that the Sacrament never existed. It is up to the Church to either confirm that or let the couple know that the Sacrament does, in fact, exist. Do you see the difference?

I see what you're saying, but I'm not sure I get where the church's authority is in this. How can the church confirm or deny that the Sacrament exists - I can't find a reference where the Bible gives the Church the authority to do that (or does it?)???? :dunno

Our Lord told Peter that whatever he declared bound on earth would be bound in heaven and whatever he declared loosed on earth would be loosed in heaven. Later in Acts, it was Peter who announced the conclusions of the Council at Jerusalem. Everyone recognized his authority.

 

[LisaC]

I've never looked at Matthew 18 as an authority for annulments. I'll be spending my quiet time tonight looking at that and at the Book of Acts.

This is actually pretty interesting - neither the Baptist or Methodist churches grant annulments so I'm learning something new here!!

 

[Madea]

Why do we call those who choose a more strict adherence "legalist"?

Speaking for myself, I was referring to those who adhere to rigid rules and traditions of men rather than truly studying and correctly interpreting the Scripture and then doing their best to live by them. I believe they do this because they can then control their own lives and feel superior to others, instead of experiencing brokenness and total abandonment to Christ.

I am 100% committed to the Scripture, and I probably come closest to the RC view on divorce (grounds being adultery, and abandonment [which includes abuse and addiction]). But it's the ATTITUDE of the heart I'm talking about. Sort of like the lady who jumped all over Waski the other day because his church did the funeral for the drug addict who died and didn't have a church home.

I understand.