“Quod Deus Coniunxit, Homo Non Separet”: Perkawinan Katolik yang Tak Terputuskan dalam Bingkai Pertanggungjawaban Yuridis-Teologis

Abstract

This article is primarily focused on the teaching of the Catholic Church
on the doctrine of indissolubility of marriage. The principal objective is
to defend the teaching by offering some canonical-theological analysis
based on canonical scripture and sacred tradition as interpreted
authoritatively by the magisterium of the Catholic church. To achieve
this objective, the article is developed in three parts. The first, serves as
a point of departure, examines some critics poised by some scholars on
the Church’s teaching on indissolubility of marriage. They offer several
considerations that suggest the teaching on indissolubility ought to
be revised in order to admit of exceptions even in case of ratum et
consummatum unions. The second part deals with the analysis of their
argument and shows their erroneous conception of the matrimonial
bond. The third part provides some magisterial intervention concerning
the Church’s teaching on indissolubility. The author argues that the
teaching cannot be changed since it constitutes an irreformable dogma
of faith, rooted in Sacred Scripture and flows from the very nature of
marriage as created by God. It must be also defended for the sake of the
faithful whose faith is under constant challenge by divorce mentality
which is quickly spreading to other parts of the world.