In the Roman Catholic Church, marriage is referred to as matrimony, and it is the covenant between a man and a woman that establishes them as spouses. The Catholic belief is that matrimony was raised by Christ to a sacrament, but it can only be undertaken by partners who are baptized under the Catholic doctrine ( O’Collins, 2016 ). This essay explains the Catholic’s concept of consent on the marriage sacrament. It also explains necessary and good elements of a marriage as per the beliefs of Catholics.
The Concept of Consent in the Catholic Marriage Sacrament
The Catholic doctrine of matrimony is mainly focused on consent between the involved parties, and there are requirements that must be met before the Church considers a marriage valid. The first element is that the parties must be free to get married. The Church does not validate any forced marriage or in which one party is unwilling ( Chaput, 2017 ). Second, it must be consensual; both parties must give their consent in the marriage. The third element is that marriage should be intended to a lifetime union. The parties involved should be prepared to remain married forever, remain faithful to each other, and be open to having children. The final element is that consent has to be given in the canonical form; there should be at least two witnesses and church minister authorized by the Church ( Chaput, 2017 ). Before marriage, the spouses are enrolled in classes for several months to help in informing their consent. If the would-be spouses were not confirmed earlier, they are confirmed during or before this time, according to Canon 1065.
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The Church also recognizes as sacramental marriage that happens between two Protestants who are baptized or between a Catholic and a non-Catholic. One must, however, note that in the latter case, the diocesan bishop must give consent before the marriage is consummated, and the marriage is considered a mixed marriage ( O’Reilly-Gindhart, 2017 ). According to the Canon of the Church, the doctrine prefers that marriage between either two Catholics or a Catholic and a non-Catholic to be celebrated in the parish church of either or the parties. In this case, those involved in preparation for the marriage can help in acquiring permission for the same. It is, however, easier to obtain authorization nowadays that in the past, owing to lack of homogeneous religiousness in communities.
Despite allowing ‘mixed marriages’, consent is a big deal in matrimony in the Catholic Church. It is considered the physical sign of the matrimony sacrament, implying that it is what officially makes the matrimony sacrament happen ( Keenan, 2017 ). The Church considers the marriage as the consent. It is the same as the use of water in absolution, the confession, Baptism, and penance in reconciliation, or the wine and bread in the Eucharist. According to the Church, the sacrament of matrimony happens through the consent. Notably, there are three ways through which the Church’s concept of consent is contrary to our cultures.
The first doctrine is the emphasis of the Church on informed consent. At the beginning of the marriage ceremony, the church minister clarifies from the couple whether or not they are consenting to it, and if they understand what they are consenting to ( Poley, 2017 ). Three questions are asked to ensure that the couple fully understands the total, free, faithful, and fruitful commitment that they make in marriage. The first question seeks to determine whether either of the partners has gone into marriage freely, without coercion, and wholeheartedly. The second question requires the couple to state whether they are prepared to love and honor each other throughout their marriage for as long as they live ( Poley, 2017 ). The final question requires the couple to declare their willingness to accept children lovingly and bring them according to the doctrine of the Church and the law of Christ.
These questions are meant to make the couple understand the importance of marriage and the emphasis that the church lays on the concept of consent. They also help the couple to give informed consent ( Keller & Keller, 2017 ). This also shows that the Catholic doctrine values informed consent in legal transactions to enable the parties understand what they are consenting to so that they consent to a doctrine and union that they fully understand. In regard to sex, the Church emphasises the need for informed consent by knowing the other party intimately. It is against casual sex and does not consider it consensual since the parties have not taken enough time to understand each other. This also explains why the Church has set minimum waiting periods and marriage preparations before administering a wedding; that duration is meant for the parties to get to know each other better before consummating their marriage.
Another concept is that the Church requires that God and the Church be involved in matrimony. According to the Church, the couple might make decisions and judgments based on emotions and hormones, thus the need for a third party to ensure sober decisions are made ( Solberg, 2018 ). The Church emphasizes that marriage is more than a ‘let’s get married’ decision, thus justifying the involvement of God and the Church in the process. In the marriage process, the word ‘consent’ is mentioned thrice, and in each case, it also mentions the consent of the partners to be received by the Church and by God. According to the Catholic Canon, consenting to marriage implies two peculiar things. The first is that one believes that they have been called by God to get married to the other. The second is that it shows one’s willingness to publicly declare that they are getting married to their partner and ready to consummate their marriage through sex.
It is, however, important to note that this does not mark the end of the consent that the Church emphasizes as per the Church, the consent has to be consummated to be validated. The Catholic doctrine adds that the consent is sealed by the couple by becoming one flesh through engaging in sexual intercourse for the first time ( Dreher, 2017 ). Further, every time that the couple engages in sex is considered renewal of their consent to be free, faithful, total, and faithful gift to each other, a consent that is made during marriage. The act of the two parties uniting is their bodies is conscious and the Church adds that this is the gift that they should give to each other, in sickness in health, for better or worse, as long as the two are alive. Further, this shows the emphasis that the Church lays on the concept of consent in marriage.
The Church further adds that having sex without marriage is meaningless and senseless to the Christian, and it is a selfish, dishonest act from which believers should refrain. The doctrine supports this by arguing that sex should be a lifelong commitment, and this can only be validated by the Church through matrimony ( Kaczor, 2017 ). Sex has consequences, and it is these consequences that require it is made a lifelong commitment. For instance, it can result in the creation of a new life and the person has an immortal soul and deserves love and tender care from both of their parents and growing up in a loving family.
The Church emphasizes that true consent is only achieved when one gains true knowledge and shows genuine concern for the other person. Sex is a big deal in the Catholic doctrine; it creates an emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual bond between bonds and thus should be avoided unless consensual and in marriage ( D'Antonio, 2013 ). The concept of consent in marriage, however, narrows down to love, as per the doctrine and teachings of the Catholic Church. Believers are encouraged to engage in marriage in the church as the also get assisted in making informed decisions rather than mushy gushy emotions and feelings of love. The love that Christ taught and what the Church emphasizes is based on the good of the other rather than emotions and feelings. Similarly, the concept of consent in marriage is meant to emphasize the virtuous love of charity and sacrifice that enables one to love their partner as they love themselves; this forms the basis of a stable, godly marriage founded on the doctrine of the Church ( D'Antonio, 2013 ). Therefore, the Church also seeks to minimize cases of divorce among believers by ensuring that their marriage is founded on the doctrine of the church. This also helps them in understanding how Christ expects them to love each other in marriage, and how sex is meant for consummating a marriage.
The Necessary and Good Elements of a Marriage in the Catholic Doctrine
The Catholic Church also outlines various elements that are considered features of a marriage. Catholics believe that these elements are achieved if a marriage was founded on the doctrine of the Church and that the couple continues to follow the guidance of the Church ( Beckwith, 2015 ). Notably, sacramental marriage under the Catholic Church might be considered similar to civil marriage externally, especially by non-Catholics. The internal reality of a marriage founded on the Catholic doctrine is far much different. There are four pillars on which a sacramental marriage rests, and it is these pillars that form elements of a marriage.
The first element is that it is faith-filled. Sacramental marriage is only officiated between a man and woman who are baptized. It is, however, imperative to note that there is no exclusive condition that the two must have been baptized under the Catholic doctrine. The second pillar is that it involves free-consent ( Network, 2015 ). As shown earlier, the Catholic emphasizes the concept of consent in marriage since it helps in founding the marriage on the doctrine of the church and enabling it to last longer and be successful. The Church also helps the parties in understanding the kind of consent into which they are entering. The third element is that it is indissoluble. The Church does not support divorce, and this is why it so much emphasizes the concept of consent. Marriage is an exclusive, lifelong, and monogamous union. The final element is that a marriage is fruitful. The couple also consents on procreation and agrees on the number of children to have, as the Lord blesses them.
This shows that in sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church, the concept of consent is highly valued. The doctrine emphasizes that consent forms the foundation of a marriage and a marriage built on emotions and feelings cannot last long. Further, couples are helped in making an informed consent as regards marriage. The four elements of marriage are better achieved when the marriage is built on the doctrine of the church.
References
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O’Reilly-Gindhart, M. C. (2017). Pope Francis and Joseph Selling: A New Approach to Mercy in Catholic Sexual Ethics. Religions , 8 (12), 26
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