The“right” to Christian marriage requires serious preparation says Pope
On Saturday Pope Benedict XVI delivered his annual address to the Roman Rota, marking
the beginning of the juridical year.
The Apostolic Tribunal of the Sacred
Roman Rota is the highest of the Church, as such its main function is that of a third-instance
appellate tribunal. Dominating its case load are petitions seeking the issuance of
adecree of nullity , and with this is mind Pope Benedict XVI dedicated his address
to the Rota's auditors, officers and judges, to the issue of marriage.
Faced
with the current crisis of the family, he called for "the greatest pastoral care"
in the preparation for and admission to the marriage, noting that the pre-marriage
courses, the examination of the spouses, publication of bans and other appropriate
investigations are often seen as purely formal obligations.
"In fact – he
observed – there is a widespread mentality that "in admitting couples for marriage,
pastors should proceed with leniency, as the natural right of people to marry is in
question". Pope Benedict instead pointed out that the "right" to marriage in Church,
“presupposes that the individuals can and intend to truly celebrate it, in the truth
of its essence as taught by the Church”. He continued “No one can claim the right
to a wedding ceremony", because “ius connubii, the right to marry”, “refers to the
right to celebrate an authentic marriage".
Admission to marriage – continued
the Pope - an issue that requires "the greatest pastoral care" in the formation of
the couple and in "testing their convictions regarding the obligations required for
the validity of the Sacrament of Marriage. Serious discernment in this matter will
avoid impulsive decisions or superficial reasons that lead two young people to take
on responsibilities that they will not know how to honour". In this context the pre-marital
examination, should never be considered a mere "bureaucratic procedure".
Pope
Benedict concluded that marriage preparation is also a key tool in stopping the “vicious
circle”, of the granting admission to marriage, “without adequate preparation or requirements”,
on the opposing end, the granting of “a judicial declaration that sometimes just as
easily, but of an opposite nature, considers marriage invalid".