When is a Catholic allowed to separate from a spouse?
Separation, in the sense of suspension of conjugal rights and obligations, is rarely permitted by God's law. There are only four reasons which permit a Catholic couple, without serious sin, to separate: desertion, adultery, imminent danger of grave physical harm to spouse or children, imminent danger or grave spiritual harm to spouse or children. Sometimes, after consultation with a confessor, such a separation can be enforced by a civil action, such as a legal separation or even divorce. However, such a separation or divorce in civil law does not effect the bond of marriage, which still exists in the eyes of God and of the Catholic church. (See Mark 10:2-9; 1 Cor. 7:5)
Reprinted from November 15, 1996
If a Catholic gets married while in the state of mortal sin, is the marriage
valid?
Yes. The marriage is valid. However, the Catholic commits an additional mortal sin of sacrilege in this case, and, obviously, receives no grace in the sacrament. The Catholic would have to receive absolution in the sacrament of penance before receiving any of the graces of the sacrament of matrimony.
Reprinted from September 27, 1996
May a Catholic be a witness (maid of honor or best man) at a wedding of two
non- Catholics in a Protestant church? The couple have never been married
before and have never been Catholics.
The answer is yes, a Catholic may do so.
Reprinted from July 16, 1999
If a spouse is sterile and incapable of having children, may a couple then
continue to have a sexual relationship in their marriage?
Certainly they may. Artificial birth prevention is forbidden by God's law, which prescribes that every marriage act must not artificially block the possibility of its being fruitful in the conception of children. However, natural sterility, either from old age or an other cause, does not preclude the legitimacy, goodness, and sacredness of a couple's sexual relationship in their marriage.
Reprinted October 15, 1999
Are parents allowed to veto a child's choice of a spouse?
No. The choice of a state of life and of a profession as well as the choice of a life's partner are rights and duties that belong to children once they become legal adults. However, parents, while forbidden to exert undue pressure in these matters, still have an obligation to offer their adult children "judicious advice" about these thigns. See the Catechism of the Catholic Church - number 2230.
Reprinted from August 14, 1998
Are pre-nuptial agreements permitted for Catholics?
It is possible that they can be licit for Catholics. Check with your parish priest about the specific aspects of any such agreements or contacts. Of course, if the matter in the agreement were to be about something illicit or would touch upon the liceity and validity of the marriage itself, such pre-nuptial agreements or contracts would not be permitted. Agreements and prenuptial contracts are usually about money, property, inheritance rights and such things. Were they to be, however, about admitting future divorce rights, excluding children and such things, they would not be permitted if a Catholic were involved in such a marriage.
Reprinted from August 14, 1998
When a spouse commits adultery, must the other spouse still live with him
or her? Must the other spouse forgive him or her?
Certainly we, as Christians, must forgive those who harm and hurt us, even before they ask. We cannot recite the Lord's prayer sincerely, unless we are always willing to do this, difficult as it is. However, adultery is one of the few reasons permitting a spouse to separate from a marriage partner, without committing any sin. Once a spouse has committed adultery, the other spouse no longer has to share "bed and board" with the adulterer. However, this kind of separation and the adultery itself do not terminate a valid marriage. The spouses are still married in God's eyes and in the eyes of the Catholic Church. This is true even if one of them enters another union (a marriage invalid and illicit in the view of God). A couple who live separately because of adultery are still married to each other. It should be remembered too that adultery is not only a mortal sin against purity and chastity but also against justice.
Reprinted from October 2, 1998
Are a couple in a mixed marriage (Protestant and Catholic), who completed
their Catholic marriage preparation and were permitted to be married by the
Catholic Church, required to raise their children as Catholics?
Yes. The Catholic party to a mixed marriage must make a solemn promise before the before the wedding to do all that is possible to have all the children baptized and reared as Catholics. The non-Catholic party, of course, should know about this promise made by the Catholic. It would be a very serious sin for a Catholic in a mixed marriage to violate this promise.
Reprinted from March 27, 1998