Faith and the sacramental dignity of marriage: Canonical considerations of the effects of radical error and simulation GJ Pothier orcid.org/0000-0003-1037-9424 Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Church Polity at the North-West University Promoter: Prof Dr P Coertzen Co-promoters: Prof Dr H Warnink Prof Dr J Smit Graduation: October 2019 Student number: 26790408 Declaration I declare that this thesis has been composed solely by myself and that it has not been submitted, in whole or in part, in any previous application for a degree, except for this one. Except where stated otherwise by reference or acknowledgment, the work presented is entirely my own. ii Abstract The CIC/83 contains 110 canons on marriage in cc. 1055 – 1165. The canons are a compilation of theological statements that are presented in juridical terms. The first canon, c. 1055, states that (§1) the marriage covenant, for the baptized, has been raised to the dignity of a sacrament by Christ the Lord and that (§2) a valid marriage contract cannot exist between baptized persons without being a sacrament. The requirements of cc. 1099 and 1101, §2 are that one must not be in error about or exclude the sacramental dignity of marriage at the time of the exchange of consent. In 1977, the International Theological Commission admitted the existence of baptized unbelievers and baptized non-Catholics who neither understand nor believe in the sacramentality of marriage, nor exchange it at the moment of consent. Through research on the historical development of theological and canonical principles, it becomes increasingly clear that the theologico-juridico principles of c. 1055 and the sacramentality of marriage must be revisited. Key Words Marriage, sacramentality, sacramental dignity, 1980 Synod of Bishops, baptized non- believers, intention against sacramentality, radical error, contract, covenant, faith, Roman Rota, simulation, exclusion, Mitis Iudex, Subsidium iii Abbreviations, Initialisms, Acronyms, Symbols CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church CIC/17 1917 Code of Canon Law CIC/83 1983 Code of Canon Law c. Canon, with reference to canon law cc. Canons, with reference to canon law DOPB Diocese of Palm Beach DOPBT Diocese of Palm Beach Tribunal ITC International Theological Commission § and ° Section number, used in ecclesiastical documents divided into sections or paragraphs PCF Pontifical Commission for the Family PCRC Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code iv Acknowledgements This decision to pursue this investigation is related to my professional ministry as a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Palm Beach. I am working full-time as a canon lawyer in the Tribunal and Office of Canonical Services and teaching canon law at Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, located in the territory of the Diocese of Palm Beach, which serves the seven dioceses that make up the Province of Miami. Time and again it has been observed that the sacral nature of marriage has been eroded, and that the parties to a marriage no longer marry according to the mind of the Church because they lack the fervent faith that past generations seemed to have enjoyed. This study has two interwoven aspects: the first, which is canonical and related to annulments, provided a way for me to address the issues surrounding the breakdown of marriage due to lack of faith in the judicial forum; the second, and probably more important, is the question of what has been, or can be, done to curb this disturbing trend. What good would a study be if it only focused on problems without providing viable solutions? This work would not have been possible without the assistance of a good Catholic man, Mr. John Rooney. With a generous heart he provided financial assistance over several years, allowing for the completion of this study without hardship. I wish to thank Prof. Piotr Coertzen of the faculty of Stellenbosch University, my thesis supervisor and promoter, for his invaluable insights and guidance in ecclesiastical law. Through his efforts and tutelage, he helped focus my work and proffered numerous suggestions to achieve my goal. May I also express my thanks to Dr. Hildegard Warnink of the faculty of Leuven University and Prof. Johannes Smit of North-West University, who were co-promoters and assisted Prof. Coertzen in his supervision. The staff of North-West University and Greenwich School of Theology could not have been nicer or more patient with me. I am grateful to Mrs. Peg Evans and Mrs. Tienie Buys for their gracious responses to my questions. I am grateful to my family and friends, and to my coworkers who tolerated my academic research in the midst of a busy office. They were all a constant source of encouragement, and without their patience and support this task would have been so much more difficult. Finally, I am grateful for the gift of life that God has given me, and that I can live it out to the fullest in assisting the People of God on their journey. May He bless you all. Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier February 2019 v Contents 1. Chapter one: Background and problem statement / questions arising ............. 1 1.1 Background and problem statement .................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Background ............................................................................................... 1 1.1.2. Problem statement ..................................................................................... 2 1.1.3. Research questions ................................................................................... 2 1.2 Research aims and objectives ............................................................................. 3 1.2.1. Aims ........................................................................................................... 3 1.2.2. Objectives .................................................................................................. 3 1.2.3. Central theoretical argument ...................................................................... 4 1.3. Research methodology ....................................................................................... 4 1.3.1. Description of the methodology .................................................................. 4 1.3.2. Literature review......................................................................................... 4 1.3.3. Databases and sources used ..................................................................... 4 1.4. Concept clarification............................................................................................ 4 1.5. Ethical considerations ......................................................................................... 5 1.6. Classification of chapters .................................................................................... 5 2. Chapter two: Nature of sacramental dignity in canon law: history and canonical developments .................................................................. 6 2.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 6 2.2. Historical development of c. 1055 ....................................................................... 8 2.3. Inseparability of contract and sacrament for the baptized ................................. 11 2.4. The architect of the CIC/17: Cardinal Gasparri.................................................. 14 2.5. Canonical developments: personalism .............................................................. 16 vi 2.6. Canonical developments: contract / covenant ................................................... 18 2.7. Ex opere operato .............................................................................................. 22 2.8. 1980 Synod of Bishops ..................................................................................... 25 2.9. Post-Second Vatican Council: ITC and Familiaris consortio .............................. 28 2.10. A catechumenate for sacramental marriage .................................................... 32 2.11. Identification of the baptized unbelievers ........................................................ 33 3. Chapter three: Comparison of 1917 and 1983 codices regarding radical error and simulation .............................................................. 35 3.1. The scholastic philosophical understanding of making decisions: intellect and will ............................................................................................... 35 3.2. Radical error ..................................................................................................... 35 3.2.1. Marriage as a juridic act ........................................................................... 36 3.2.2. Determining error ..................................................................................... 41 3.3. Canonical developments specifically related to error and to simulation of consent ................................... 42 3.3.1. Ignorance and simple error ...................................................................... 42 3.3.2. Pre-conciliar ............................................................................................. 42 3.4. Between Second Vatican Council and the CIC/83 ............................................ 44 3.5. CIC/83 .............................................................................................................. 45 3.6. Simulation ........................................................................................................