Divorce and Remarriage

Question 1

in 2012, how many estimated marriages ended in divorce in England and Wales?

Answer 1

42%

Question 2

in the UK, what is divorce governed by?

Answer 2

the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1973

Question 3

what does the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1973 allow?

Answer 3

allows a divorce to be granted if it can be shown that the marriage has suffered an “irretrievable breakdown”
e.g. adultery, violence, alcoholism

Question 4

what do many Christians think about the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1973? why?

Answer 4

it makes divorce too easy to obtain in Britain

upholding the sanctity of marriage is expressed in the Bible and especially in Jesus’ teachings

Question 5

what do Christians know about how you should treat divorcees?

Answer 5

divorcees needs love, support and care

Question 6

what is the Protestant Church view on divorce and remarriage?

Answer 6

Jesus’ teaching is an ideal which married couples should try to live up to
problems faced by some couples mean that their marriages can and do end
accept a civil divorce as an end to a marriage
a divorcee can remarry in a Protestant church, even if their ex-marital partner is still alive

Question 7

what is the Church of England view on divorce and remarriage?

Answer 7

since 1981, the General Synod has given parish ministers the authority to remarry divorced people in church if they feel that it is appropriate and with the permission of their bishops

Question 8

what is the Roman Catholic Church view on divorce and remarriage?

Answer 8

once a Christian marriage has taken place the two have become ‘one flesh: the marriage is made by God and cannot be dissolved or ended by anything except death
do not recognise civil divorces
widowers are free to marry again in all the Christian churches whatever the state of their previous marriage
Catholics who have had an annulment can remarry in church even if the person they were ‘married’ to is still alive - still need a civil divorce otherwise this breaks civil law

Question 9

what is the Eastern Orthodox Churches view on divorce and remarriage?

Answer 9

has the authority to end marriages, and the church itself will grant divorces
a third marriage is rarely allowed

Question 10

Parish ministers have the authority to perform remarriages in church (since 1981)

Answer 10

Church of England

Question 11

Usually allow remarriage in church

Answer 11

Church of England
Methodist Church
Eastern Orthodox Church

Question 12

Accepts that marriages do end and allow civil divorce

Answer 12

Church of England
Methodist Church
Eastern Orthodox Church

Question 13

Annulments are permitted

Answer 13

Church of England
Methodist Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church

Question 14

Widows and widowers are free to marry again in church

Answer 14

Church of England
Methodist Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church

Question 15

Jesus’ teaching is an ideal which married couples can aim for

Answer 15

Church of England
Methodist Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church

Question 16

Remarriage service is more sombre in tone

Answer 16

Eastern Orthodox Church

Question 17

The church used to offer special services where marriage is ended

Answer 17

Eastern Orthodox Church

Question 18

Divorce is not permitted

Answer 18

Roman Catholic Church

Question 19

If a couple married in church get divorced by the state, they are still married in the eyes of the church

Answer 19

Roman Catholic Church

Question 20

A marriage is a sacrament that cannot be dissolved by anything people do

Answer 20

Roman Catholic Church

Question 21

When would the Roman Catholic Church allow an annulment?

Answer 21

Oone of the partners might not have understood the marriage vows made at the wedding, or might have been forced into making them (e.g. underage, mentally and physically disabled, vulnerable)
One of the partners might have lied when making the vows: for instance, he or she might never had any intention of having children
The couple may never have consummated the marriage (had sexual intercourse together)