THE
P RTAL
August 2015
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divorce was not felt in the fifteenth century to be an three marriages. The fourth marriage is forbidden.
impediment that could lead to division. Indeed, as I
“Now, how do we explain the practice of giving
say, the granting of divorce by the Orthodox Church is
something going back long before the schism between divorce in the light of the clear teaching of Christ?
We see this as an act of compassion and of pastoral
the Churches.
condescension. Yes, marriage is for life, for eternity,
different terminology
but humans are weak and fallible and marriages break
“Let us note a difference in terminology. In down. If in human terms the relationship of the
the Catholic Church “Annulment” is granted. In husband and wife has collapsed, and in human terms
the Orthodox Church, we likewise have the term there seems no prospect of restoring it, we Orthodox
“Annulment”, but we also allow divorce. In principle, believe that, in accordance with Christ’s mercy and
compassion we should release
annulment and divorce are quite
people from the marriage and that
different. Annulment says that
we should allow them a second
there has never been a marriage;
chance, because to allow divorce
divorce says there has been a
without re-marriage does not
marriage, it has broken down and
usually solve the problem. Almost
we are now bringing it to an end.
certainly, there will be a third
In practice, however, the Catholic
or a fourth party involved. We
Church gives a very extensive
would say our practice in granting
meaning to “Annulment”, far more
divorce is an expression of divine
than we Orthodox would do.
compassion ministered by the
Church to human beings who fall.
“In the Catholic Church,
“Annulment” may sometimes be
lesser of two evils
granted even when a couple have
“We are always unwilling to
been married for many years
grant divorce, but sometimes it
and have had children. In the
seems to us the lesser of two evils.
Orthodox Church, in such a case,
If the relationship is dead, then we
we might grant a divorce, but
do not insist on the preservation of
we would say that the marriage
an external legal form. That would
has clearly existed. Very often,
where you Catholics would grant an Annulment, we be basically our position.
Orthodox would call it a divorce. It is something
“We are not happy about this, but we feel this is the
which we must look at in each specific case.
wisest course. In the past, divorce was very rare in the
“We Orthodox certainly believe that marriage is for Orthodox Church; today it has become much more
life. The teaching of Christ is quite clear. We certainly frequent. As we all know, marriage is under assault
consider that a marriage is not just a temporary from the norms and outlook of our contemporary
arrangement; it is for life. Indeed, not only for life, society. So we grant divorce unwillingly, but we feel
but for eternity. Nowhere in the Orthodox marriage this is wiser than permanently to exclude people from
service do we say, “Till death do us part”, on the the Holy Sacrament.”
contrary, at the end of the service, at the crowning of
Jackie said, “We rather suspect that relations with the
the couple with the marriage crowns which are the
outward symbol of the marriage, we include the prayer East are going to be more important to the Catholic
with regard to these crowns: “Receive these crowns West than they have been heretofore, especially with
the difficulties with the Anglican Communion. There
into your kingdom”.
is a great prize which is waiting to be won there and I
the kingdom of Heaven
just wondered if we could look forward with hope or
“Marriage continues into the kingdom of Heaven. with fear. What is the future? That is the question.”
People are not given in marriage in Heaven but they
enter Heaven by God’s mercy as married couples; that the will of Christ
goes on into Eternity. However, after death, in the
The Metropolitan said, “Our starting point must
Catholic Church as in the Orthodox, re-marriage is surely be this; unity is Christ’s will. On the eve of His
allowed, though in the early Church this was done with Passion, at the mystical supper, he prayed, “May they
reluctance. In the Orthodox Church, even after the all be one”. (John 17) If therefore, as Catholics and
death of your partner, you cannot enter into more than Orthodox, we are involved in discussions about unity
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