Inane for Civil Courts to Decide Catholics’ Divorce

Catholic, Matt Walsh, of Daily Wire, and producer of “What is A Woman” recently interviewed New York divorce lawyer, James Sexton.  Among other things, they discussed the meaning of marriage and pre-nuptial agreements.

Find full interview on Matt Walsh HERE

Sexton points out that the legal institution of marriage is politics; it is a set of rules over the relationship of husband and wife. It can change from year to year with the political circumstances. For example, it was just decided in New York that the parent who does not agree to provide gender affirming care is not suitable to be a custodial parent.  For these reasons, it is inane for US dioceses to have the civil forum decide Catholics’ divorce cases. For Catholics, divorce is simply a permanent separation arranged by the civil forum.  Divorce doesn’t end a Catholic marriage; it only determines the obligations of the spouses toward each other and their children.

Sexton says pre-nuptial agreements are the way for a bride and groom to designate the rule set to which parties agree when they marry. With the non-profit organization, Mary’s Advocates, I work to reduce unilateral no-fault divorce. It makes more sense for Catholics to agree to follow the rules of Catholic doctrine and canon law regarding their obligations toward each other and their children than to agree to the civil forum’s divorce rules.  Sexton says it is a good idea for couples to have their own rule set (for divorce), because the civil forum’s rule set is constantly changing.

Mary’s Advocates has a way for Catholics to agree to the rule set that they want to apply to their marriage: i.e., the Catholic Code of Canon Law and doctrine. See Solemn Marriage Covenant Set; scroll down to Questions and Answers to read free DIY set.