Dr. John Bergsma – abuse sometimes of annulments

Dr. John Bergsma – abuse sometimes of annulments

  • Posted by Mary's Advocates
  • On January 24, 2022
  • 3 Comments

The St. Paul Center produced “Discussing Jesus’ Strict Rule on Divorce” (full video HERE). In this two-minute excerpt, Dr. John Bergsma (professor of Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville) states the following:

… God makes that marriage bond between those two people. This is so obscured in modern culture by the frivolous use of divorce and even within the Church, by the abuse sometimes of the Church’s laws about annulment which are much too frequently appealed to these days (we can’t get into that), but it sets a scandalous example of young people who grow up who think that marriage is a contract that can be broken at any time by either of the parties.

Dr. Bergsma is the Vice President for Biblical Theology and Mission Effectiveness at the John Paul Center for Biblical Theology which was founded by Dr. Scott Hahn.  The presentation here was on the 19th week of ordinary time including Mt. 19:3-12, wherein Jesus is asked “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”

For the separated faithful who connect with each other through Mary’s Advocates, we are inspired by God’s faithfulness to His people. Even if the people reject God, he doesn’t give up on them. Separated faithful do not give up on their spouses either.

 

3 Comments

B. Julian Kohl
People are starting to learn they are living in sin because of evil prelets (tribunals; bishops; priests; etc), and are emotionally shattered now.
Pauli
Dr. Bergsma is speaking here of the teaching of the Church. The Church teaches that Holy Matrimony is much more than a legal contract. If society deems it to be less, that does not change the "current reality". I am not sure what your point is.
William
"it sets a scandalous example of young people who grow up who think that marriage is a contract that can be broken at any time by either of the parties." Dear John, It's LESS than a contract actually BECAUSE the civil positive law denies anyone the ability to exercise a contract element that denies the ability to divorce for any reason. Dude, it is a contract, even for Catholics. 'No' you say? Show me Catholics who have been denied divorce? By the state OR the Church. It is the current Reality. You say it isn't and I say it is. I point to all the people and ask you to show me an instance when it isn't just a contract? (Still waiting for an all the examples)

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