Christian attitudes to Divorce and Separation
The Catholic Church does not recognise
divorce and regards marriage as a lifelong
commitment. In the situation where a
marriage breaks down and there is no chance
of reconciliation there must be an annulment
or separation.
“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives
because your hearts were hard. But it was not
this way from the beginning. I tell you that
anyone who divorces is wife, except for
sexual immorality, and marries woman
commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:8-9)
All other Christian denominations accept
divorce, but the issue is complicated if a
divorced Christian wants to remarry.
An annulment is when a court says your
marriage is not legally valid. The Catholic
Church teaches that annulment may be
granted for the non-consummation of
marriage, which means a married couple
have not have sex.
Anglicans
• Accept divorce as UK law allows it.
• Discourage remarriage but some vicars will
agree to a service of prayer and dedication.
Non-Conformists (E.g. Methodists)
• Divorce is best avoided
• Remarriage is permitted if it is suitable and
acceptable to all.
• No minister can be forced to conduct a
remarriage against their will.
Catholics
• Do not recognise divorce
• Marriage is a sacrament that cannot be
dissolved except for special reasons
• Some marriages can be annulled
• If a catholic remarries without an annulment
they can attend Mass but not receive Holy
Communion
Muslim attitudes to divorce
Married couples should try to reconcile.
Before a divorce takes place an imam and the
Muslim community seek to help a couple.
“And if you fear dissention between the two,
send an arbitrator from his people and an
arbitrator from her people. If they both desire
reconciliation, God will cause it between
them. Indeed, God is ever knowing and
Aware. (Qur’an 4:35)
A period of three months is given to give the
couple time to reconcile and ensure the
woman is not pregnant.
Christian wedding ceremony
• Marriage is a gift from God and take place to
churches or chapels to reflect this.
• The vicar welcomes everyone and explains the
nature of marriage.
• The couples exchange vows with the main
Christian beliefs:
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for
better or worse, for richer or poorer etc”
• The couple exchange rings as a sign of
commitment
“With my body I honour you, all that I am I give
to you and share with you”
• The vicar declares the couple married.
• There are prayers and bible readings and the
priest gives a sermon.
• Hymns may be sung.
• The couple most sign the register; a legal
document.
Islamic wedding ceremony
• The wali offers the bride to the groom.
• There must be two witnesses who are good
Muslims.
• They must make a payment of mahr (dowry) by the
groom to the bride.
• The marriage contract is signed by the bride and
groom and witnesses.
• A sermon is given to bless the marriage.
• Vows are not necessary but may be exchanged if
the bride and groom choose to.
• The wedding ceremony ends with prayers for the
bride, groom and families.
• The wedding banquet or walima is traditionally held
by the groom after this has taken place.
• A separate civil ceremony must take place to
legalise the marriage.
Adultery
à
Voluntary sexual intercourse between a
married person and a person who is not their spouse.
Divorce
à
To legally end a marriage.
Cohabitation
à
To live together in a sexual
relationship without being married or in a civil
partnership.
Commitment
à
A sense of dedication and obligation
to someone or something.
Contraception
à
Methods used to prevent a woman
from becoming pregnant during or following sexual
intercourse.
Gender Equality
à
People of all genders enjoying
the same rights and opportunities in all aspects of
their lives.
Responsibilities
à
Actions/duties you are expected
to carry out.
Roles
à
Position, status of function of a person in
society as well as the characterises expected of them.
Monotheistic Religions
à
Religions that believe
there is only one God.
Secular à A society where religious beliefs and
practices are increasingly less important to a growing
number of people.
Pluralism
à
The existence of different groups
and beliefs within society.
Patriarchal
à
A family or society controlled by men.
Matriarchal
à
A family or society controlled by
women.
Bigamy
à
Entering into a marriage with someone
while still being legally married to another.
Promiscuity
à
Having a number of casual sexual
relationships.
Fidelity
à
Two people being sexually faithful to
each other.
Procreation
à
Reproduction.
Christian Attitudes
• In Jesus’ time it was normal for men to take up
positions of authority – society has adapted and
women are more equal.
• In the early Christian Church the original disciples
were all men.
• Gender is irrelevant as long as you have faith in
Jesus (Galatians 3:27-29)
• Biblical teachings indicate that women and men
are different and should not have authority over
men (1 Timothy 2:1-12)
• Christians believe that all humans are created in
the image of God, so each human life is equal and
sacred.
• In the Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus taught
that you should not discriminate.
• Jesus’ actions showed that he respected women
and he had women among his closest followers,
which would have been unusual at the time.
Catholic and Orthodox Churches
• Women can take up active roles in worship. They
can become a nun taking vows to devote to God.
They are equal members of church congregations
with men.
• Women cannot be ordained. They cannot become
priests.
• Men take on leadership roles while women play
important roles in family and community.
Anglican Church
• Men and women take up equal roles in church
leadership and worship.
• The first male bishop was ordained in 2014. Women
can become ministers and lead Christian
congregations in worship.
• The Church of England voted to allow women to
become bishops.
• In other Protestant denominations women play an
important role in worship, ministers and leading acts
of worship and reading services.
Muslim attitudes
• Women cannot be imams and lead men in prayer.
Some Muslims claim that having a female imam
would invalidate men’s prayers.
• Some Sunni groups allow women to act as imams
and lead prayers if the congregation is made up of
other women or close family.
• There is increasing pressure from some to allow
mixed sex congregations, worship together and to
lead these. In some countries such as Canada and
the UK this occasionally occurs.
Muslim attitudes
• The Hadith mentions the Prophet’s
wives leading prayers.
• The Qur’an does not mention
whether females can act as an imam
and lead prayers.
• An imam must be a good Muslim to
lead a community in prayer.
Therefore, gender should be
irrelevant.
• Allah is against discrimination;
therefore, gender should be irrelevant
in the leading of prayer and
congregations.
Christian wedding ceremony
• Marriage is a gift from God and take place to
churches or chapels to reflect this.
• The vicar welcomes everyone and explains the
nature of marriage.
• The couples exchange vows with the main
Christian beliefs:
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for
better or worse, for richer or poorer etc”
• The couple exchange rings as a sign of
commitment
“With my body I honour you, all that I am I give
to you and share with you”
• The vicar declares the couple married.
• There are prayers and bible readings and the
priest gives a sermon.
• Hymns may be sung.
• The couple most sign the register; a legal
document.
Islamic wedding ceremony
• The wali (this may be the father or brother of the
bride) offers the bride to the groom.
• There must be two witnesses who are good
Muslims.
• They must make a payment of mahr (dowry) by the
groom to the bride.
• The marriage contract is signed by the bride and
groom and witnesses.
• A sermon is given to bless the marriage.
• Vows are not necessary but may be exchanged if
the bride and groom choose to.
• The wedding ceremony ends with prayers for the
bride, groom and families.
• The wedding banquet or walima is traditionally
held by the groom after this has taken place.
• A separate civil ceremony must take place to
legalise the marriage.
Christian attitudes to same-sex relationships
Same sex relationships cannot take place in
Anglican Christian churches but can in non-
conformist churches e.g. Quakers.
Many Christians oppose same sex marriage
on Biblical scripture:
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as
one does with a woman, both of them have
done what is detestable. They are to be put
to death.” (Leviticus 20:13)
“We know that the law is good if one uses it
properly. We also know that the law is made
not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and
rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and
irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or
mothers, for murderers, for the sexually
immoral, for those practicing homosexuality.
“(1 Timothy 1:8-10)
Catholic Church
• Prohibit same sex marriage as sexual
relationships can only occur between a man
and woman.
• Pope Francis rejected a union of two people
of the same sex.
Non-Conformists (E.g. Methodists and Quakers)
• Will allow same sex marriages to take place in
churches.
• The focus is on the quality of the love and not
who the love is between.
Muslim attitudes to same-sex relationships
Islam forbids same sex marriages and
homosexual and lesbian relationships.
Sex should only take place between a
husband and wife. Muslims regard marriage
as the only place that sexual relationships can
take place.
“And Lot when he said to his people “Do you
commit such immorality as no one has
preceded you with from among the worlds?
Indeed, you approach men with desire,
Instead of women. Rather, you are a
transgressing people.” (Qur’an 7:80-81)
