The Catholic Church opposes divorce because it views marriage as a permanent, indissoluble covenant established by God, rooted in Jesus' teachings that "what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Matthew 19:6). It sees marriage as a lifelong commitment, symbolizing God's unbreakable covenant with humanity, making divorce a grave offense against natural law that harms families and society. While the Church doesn't recognize civil divorce, it allows separation (even civil divorce for safety/abuse) and offers annulments for marriages never validly contracted, recognizing that God's mercy applies to individuals in difficult situations, Catholic Answers.
Jesus himself taught that marriage is permanent (Matthew 19:3-6), and St. Paul reinforced this teaching (see 1 Cor 7:10-11 and Eph 5:31-32). The Church does not recognize a civil divorce because the State cannot dissolve what is indissoluble. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2382-2386.
But I say to you, everyone who divorces his wife—except for fornication—causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 19:9 has it like this: “Whoever divorces his wife except for fornication and marries another woman commits adultery.”
In short, yes. However, in order to be married in the Catholic Church, the spouse's first marriage must be annulled.
Pastor Ron Clark writes that the Apostle Paul's letters about marriage make it clear that a Christian is justified in divorce when they are pulled away from God because of a lack of peace in their home. Clark writes, The Christian has every right to demand and expect peace and respect in their home.
As Jesus elaborates in Matthew 19:8, Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of the ancient Israelites' hearts, including out of concern that wives might be otherwise killed.
Annulment is the only Church approved method to divorce and remarry.
Divorce and the Catholic Church
A divorced or separated person is not excommunicated and is still a Catholic in good standing. The only reason for excommunication after divorce is remarriage without going through the annulment process.
Does Divorce Affect my Entrance into the Catholic Church? Please remember that a divorce alone would not affect, or hinder in any way, your entrance into the Catholic Church.
I always advise divorced Catholics not to start dating unless and until they are declared free to marry by a Catholic marriage tribunal. The Catholic belief in the absolute permanence of marriage has its foundation in Jesus' own words in Sacred Scripture.
God's love for us is free, total, faithful and fruitful (life-giving), and the couple's love for each other should be all these things as well. In fact, these four aspects of love – free, total, faithful, and fruitful – are mirrored in the vows & promises that a husband and wife exchange during their wedding.
U.S. law is set up so that people who divorce and remarry after getting a green card through marriage are expected to wait at least five years after they got their permanent residence before petitioning for a new spouse to receive the same benefit.
The Possibility of Remarriage
Remarriage is permitted for the faithful partner only when the divorce was on biblical grounds. In fact, the purpose for a biblical divorce is to make clear that the faithful partner is free to remarry, but only in the Lord (Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:39).
9e I say to you,* whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” 10[His] disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11He answered, “Not all can accept [this] word,* but only those to whom that is granted.
In England, Protestant reform began with King Henry VIII in 1534. He wanted to get a divorce, but the pope would not let him. So, he created his own church. It was called the Church of England.
Matthew 25:40 means that acts of kindness, compassion, and service shown to people in need—the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, or imprisoned—are seen by Jesus as acts done directly to Him, revealing one's true faith and relationship with Him, as He identifies fully with "the least of these my brothers" (and sisters). This verse, part of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, highlights that true faith is demonstrated through tangible love for others, especially the marginalized, and serves as the basis for final judgment.
In the first, Matthew quotes Jesus as saying: “It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, except on the grounds of porneia (sexual immorality), makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32).
Even though God forgives adultery, this does not mean He erases the consequences that might come from adultery. The danger of the sin of adultery is not that God cannot forgive it, but that adultery destroys marriages and destroys lives.
“Sexual abstinence is to be a rare and temporary exception to the norm of regular sexual union.” Therefore, in answer to your question, I know of no passage in scripture that says you are to stay in a marriage in which one mate refuses to have sex with the other.
There are no rules in Australian family law that say a couple cannot get married again after a divorce, even if it's to the same person. In fact, some couples decide after spending time apart that they still care deeply for each other and want to try again. The law supports your right to make that choice.
The average length of a first marriage that ends in divorce is roughly eight years—7.8 years for men, 7.9 for women. Moving into second marriages that end in divorce, the timeline shortens somewhat. In these cases, the median length for men is 7.3 years, while for women it drops to 6.8 years.
Common Red Flags That Trigger Heightened Scrutiny
Significant age difference (10+ years) Different religious backgrounds with no shared practice. Marriage shortly after visa overstay or entry without inspection. Discrepancies in addresses or mailing documents.
The 777 rule for marriage is a relationship guideline to keep couples connected by scheduling specific, regular quality time: a date night every 7 days, a night away (getaway) every 7 weeks, and a romantic holiday every 7 months, often without kids, to foster intimacy, reduce stress, and prevent routine from overtaking the relationship. It's about consistent, intentional efforts to prioritize the partnership.
To have your marriage annulled by the Catholic Church, apply for a declaration of nullity and undergo a tribunal review. You need several documents, such as your marriage certificate and divorce decree, to start the annulment process.
The Order for Celebrating Matrimony offers three different forms for celebrating the Sacrament: Celebrating Matrimony within Mass, Celebrating Matrimony without Mass, and Celebrating Matrimony Between a Catholic and a Catechumen or a non-Christian.