Pope asks church courts not to undermine teachings on marriage

Published: 2005-01-31

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A marriage cannot be declared invalid simply because the couple feels unable to reconcile and continue living together, Pope John Paul II said. "Acquiescence to interests foreign to the search for truth" is unjust, undermines church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage and can never be a pastoral response to a troubled marriage, the pope said Jan. 29 in a speech to the Roman Rota, a church court dealing mainly with marriage cases. Pope John Paul's speech focused on the moral obligation of tribunal staffs to uphold church teaching and on the responsibility of diocesan bishops to ensure their tribunals operate according to church law and the requirements of justice.

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