Q. 1023. {284} Can the bond of Christian marriage be dissolved by any human power?  A. The bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power.

Q. 1024.  Does not a divorce granted by courts of justice break the bond of marriage?  A. Divorce granted by courts of justice or by any human power does not break the bond of marriage, and one who makes use of such a divorce to marry again while the former husband or wife lives commits a sacrilege and lives in the sin of adultery.  A civil divorce may give a sufficient reason for the persons to live apart and it may determine their rights with regard to support, the control of the children and other temporal things, but it has no effect whatever upon the bond and spiritual nature of the Sacrament.

Q. 1025.  Does not the Church sometimes allow husband and wife to separate and live apart?  A. The Church sometimes, for very good reasons, does allow husband and wife to separate and live apart; but that is not dissolving the bond of marriage, or divorce as it is called, for though separated they are still husband and wife, and neither can marry again till the other dies.

Q. 1026.  Has not the Church sometimes allowed Catholics once married to separate and marry again?  A. The Church has never allowed Catholics once really married to separate and marry again, but it has sometimes declared persons apparently married free to marry again, because their first marriage was null; that is, no marriage on account of some impediment not discovered till after the ceremony.

Q. 1027.  What evils follow divorce so commonly claimed by those outside the true Church and granted by civil authority?  A. The evils that follow divorce so commonly claimed by those outside the true Church and granted by civil authority are very many; but chiefly (1) A disregard for the sacred character of the Sacrament and for the spiritual welfare of the children; (2) The loss of the true idea of home and family followed by bad morals and sinful living.

Q. 1028. {285} Which are the effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony?  A. The effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony are 1st, To sanctify the love of husband and wife; 2nd, To give them grace to bear with each other’s weaknesses; 3d, To enable them to bring up their children in the fear and love of God.

Q. 1029.  What do we mean by bearing with each other’s weaknesses?  A. By bearing with each other’s weaknesses we mean that the husband and wife must be patient with each other’s faults, bad habits or dispositions, pardon them easily, and aid each other in overcoming them.

Q. 1030.  How are parents specially fitted to bring up their children in the fear and love of God?  A. Parents are specially fitted to bring up their children in the fear and love of God (1) By the special grace they receive to advise and direct their children and to warn them against evil; (2) By the experience they have acquired in passing through life from childhood to the position of parents.  Children should, therefore, conscientiously seek and accept the direction of good parents.