{"id":46023,"date":"2015-06-29T07:18:24","date_gmt":"2015-06-29T11:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=46023"},"modified":"2015-06-29T10:06:39","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T14:06:39","slug":"did-pope-francis-say-he-approves-of-divorce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2015\/06\/did-pope-francis-say-he-approves-of-divorce\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Pope Francis say he approves of divorce?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Some people seem to think so. It popped up repeatedly in headlines last week.<\/p>\n

Huffington Post, for example, posted a story by RNS with this headline: \u201cPope Francis Says Divorce May Be \u2018Morally Necessary\u2019 To Protect Kids.<\/p>\n

The New York Post also reported:\u00a0\u201cPope Francis: Divorce can be \u2018morally necessary'\u201d<\/p>\n

The story itself<\/strong>,<\/a> however, is more nuanced:<\/p>\n

Pope Francis said Wednesday (June 24) that there are times when it is \u201cmorally necessary\u201d for couples to separate, as part of the pontiff\u2019s broader reflection on how to protect children from quarreling parents.<\/p>\n

Speaking to crowds in St. Peter\u2019s Square, Francis said that in some cases \u201cseparation is inevitable\u201d and \u201ccan even become morally necessary\u201d at times.<\/p>\n

The pontiff was clear in specifying the extreme cases in which he saw family breakdown as justifiable: \u201cwhen it comes to saving the weaker spouse, or young children, from more serious injuries caused by intimidation and violence, by humiliation and exploitation, by lack of involvement and indifference.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to this translation, the word \u201cdivorce\u201d was never used. Pope Francis was talking about married couples living apart.<\/p>\n

In fact, people who were surprised or even shocked, simply shocked<\/em>, at this pronouncement should know there is nothing new here. This has been the long-standing teaching of the Church.<\/p>\n

From the catechism:\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

2383<\/a><\/b>\u00a0The\u00a0separation\u00a0<\/i>of spouses while maintaining the marriage bond can be legitimate in certain cases provided for by canon law.177<\/sup><\/p>\n

If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Canon lawyer Ed Peters<\/a> <\/strong>noted last week:<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>Francis\u2019 recent comments<\/a>\u00a0about the need, at times, for married couples to separate are neither imprudent nor imprecise and they should provide no solace to foes of right thinking nor occasion concern among the faithful. Francis is, I suggest,\u00a0simply re-stating standard moral theology and indeed canon law in\u00a0his remarks on marriage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Canon law<\/a><\/strong> puts it this way:<\/p>\n

Can.\u00a0\u00a01151\u00a0Spouses\u00a0have the\u00a0duty\u00a0and\u00a0right\u00a0to\u00a0preserve\u00a0conjugal\u00a0living\u00a0unless a\u00a0legitimate\u00a0cause\u00a0excuses\u00a0them.<\/p>\n

Can.\u00a0\u00a01152\u00a0\u00a71. Although it is\u00a0earnestly\u00a0recommended\u00a0that a\u00a0spouse,\u00a0moved\u00a0by\u00a0Christian\u00a0charity\u00a0and\u00a0concerned\u00a0for the\u00a0good\u00a0of the\u00a0family, not\u00a0refuse\u00a0forgiveness\u00a0to an adulterous\u00a0partner\u00a0and not\u00a0disrupt\u00a0conjugal\u00a0life, nevertheless, if the\u00a0spouse\u00a0did not\u00a0condone\u00a0the\u00a0fault\u00a0of the other\u00a0expressly\u00a0or\u00a0tacitly, the\u00a0spouse\u00a0has the\u00a0right\u00a0to\u00a0sever conjugal\u00a0living\u00a0unless the\u00a0spouse\u00a0consented\u00a0to the\u00a0adultery,\u00a0gave\u00a0cause\u00a0for it, or also\u00a0committed\u00a0adultery.<\/p>\n