Folio 329

Council of Trent, 1545-1563

printed p. 297 · pdf p. 329

974. Can. 4. If anyone says that the Church could not establish impediments invalidating marriage [cf. Matt. 16:19], or that she has erred in establishing them: let him be anathema.

975. Can. 5. If anyone says that the bond of matrimony can be dissolved because of heresy, or grievous cohabitation, or voluntary absence from the spouse: let him be anathema.

976. Can. 6. If anyone says that matrimony contracted, but not consummated, is not dissolved by a solemn religious profession of either one of the married persons: let him be anathema.

977. Can. 7. If anyone says that the Church errs,1 inasmuch as she has taught and still teaches that in accordance with evangelical and apostolic doctrine [Matt. 10: I Cor. 7] the bond of matrimony cannot be dissolved because of adultery of one of the married persons, and that both, or even the innocent one, who has given no occasion for adultery, cannot during the lifetime of the other contract another marriage, and that he, who after the dismissal of the adulteress shall marry another, is guilty of adultery, and that she also, who after the dismissal of the adulterer shall marry another: let him be anathema.

978. Can. 8. If anyone says that the Church errs, when she decrees that for many reasons a separation may take place between husband and wife with regard to bed, and with regard to cohabitation, for a determined or indetermined time: let him be anathema.

979. Can. 9. If anyone says that clerics constituted in sacred orders, or regulars who have solemnly professed chastity, can contract marriage, and that such marriage is valid, notwithstanding the ecclesiastical law or the vow, and that the contrary is nothing else than a condemnation of marriage, and that all who feel that they have not the gift of chastity (even though they have vowed it) can contract marriage: let him be anathema. Since God does not refuse that gift to those who seek it rightly, "neither does he suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able" [I Cor. 10:13].

980. Can. 10. If anyone says that the married state is to be preferred to the state of virginity or celibacy, and that it is not better and happier to remain in virginity or celibacy than to be united in matrimony [cf. Matt. 19:11 f.; I Cor. 7:25 f.; 28:40]: let him be anathema.

981. Can. 11. If anyone says that the prohibition of the solemnization of

  1. This form of condemnation was chosen lest the Greeks be offended, who evidently followed a contrary practice, although they did not condemn the opposite practice of the Latin Church. On this canon Pius XI (Casti Conubii, Dec. 31, 1930; AAS 22 [1930] 574) speaks thus; "But if the Church has not erred or does not err, when she taught or is teaching these things, and thus it is quite certain that matrimony can be dissolved not even on account of adultery, it is clear that other much weaker causes which are customarily brought forward are worth much less, and furthermore are to be considered valueless." ↩