Violence at home

What does the Church say to someone being hurt?

That the person being hurt may leave, and the Church’s law says so. If either spouse “causes grave mental or physical danger to the other spouse or to the offspring or otherwise renders common life too difficult”, that is legitimate cause for the other to leave, “either by decree of the local ordinary or even on his or her own authority if there is danger in delay”. Can. 1153 Mental danger counts, danger to the children counts by itself, and where waiting is dangerous nobody’s permission is needed.

Francis wrote that separation can be more than allowed: “At times it even becomes morally necessary, precisely when it is a matter of removing the more vulnerable spouse or young children from serious injury due to abuse and violence, from humiliation and exploitation, and from disregard and indifference”. Amoris Laetitia 241

What is being done is condemned. Domestic violence is among the “craven acts of cowardice” that are no “show of masculine power”, and “the verbal, physical, and sexual violence that women endure in some marriages contradicts the very nature of the conjugal union.” Amoris Laetitia 54 Paul’s “be subject to your husbands” is no warrant for it: “Every form of sexual submission must be clearly rejected”, including “all improper interpretations” of that passage. Amoris Laetitia 156 Rape “is always an intrinsically evil act”, and it causes “grave damage that can mark the victim for life”. CCC 2356

Leaving is not the same as divorcing and remarrying. Where living together “becomes practically impossible”, the Church “permits the physical separation of the couple and their living apart”; the spouses remain married, and “the Christian community is called to help these persons”. CCC 1649 Whatever happens, “the adequate support and education of the children must always be suitably provided”. Can. 1154

2356

Rape is the forcible violation of the sexual intimacy of another person. It does injury to justice and charity. Rape deeply wounds the respect, freedom, and physical and moral integrity to which every person has a right. It causes grave damage that can mark the victim for life. It is always an intrinsically evil act. Graver still is the rape of children committed by parents (incest) or those responsible for the education of the children entrusted to them.

1649

Yet there are some situations in which living together becomes practically impossible for a variety of reasons. In such cases the Church permits the physical separation of the couple and their living apart. the spouses do not cease to be husband and wife before God and so are not free to contract a new union. In this difficult situation, the best solution would be, if possible, reconciliation. the Christian community is called to help these persons live out their situation in a Christian manner and in fidelity to their marriage bond which remains indissoluble. Cf. FC 83; CIC, cann. 1151-1155.

1153

§1. If either of the spouses causes grave mental or physical danger to the other spouse or to the offspring or otherwise renders common life too difficult, that spouse gives the other a legitimate cause for leaving, either by decree of the local ordinary or even on his or her own authority if there is danger in delay.

§2. In all cases, when the cause for the separation ceases, conjugal living must be restored unless ecclesiastical authority has established otherwise.

1154

After the separation of the spouses has taken place, the adequate support and education of the children must always be suitably provided.

Dignitas Infinita Apr 2, 2024
Amoris Laetitia Mar 19, 2016

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