PAULINE PRIVILEGE Meaning and
Definition
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The Pauline privilege refers to a provision in Catholic canon law that allows for the dissolution of a valid but non-sacramental marriage between two unbaptized individuals when one of them subsequently converts to Christianity. This concept is named after the apostle Saint Paul, who addressed the issue in his First Letter to the Corinthians.
According to Catholic teaching, marriage is a sacrament and, as such, is indissoluble. However, the Pauline privilege recognizes that, in certain circumstances, the bond of marriage may not have been sacramentally valid due to the lack of baptism of one or both spouses at the time of the marriage. When a couple marries before converting to Christianity, their union might be considered a natural, rather than sacramental, marriage.
The Pauline privilege allows for the dissolution of such a marriage if one of the unbaptized spouses expresses their desire to become baptized and seeks to establish a Christian marriage with a baptized individual. This dissolution can be granted by competent Church authorities after a careful examination of the situation.
It is important to note that the Pauline privilege does not apply to sacramental marriages between two baptized individuals. In those cases, the Catholic Church holds that the marriage is valid and cannot be dissolved except through death or by a declaration of nullity, which determines that the marriage lacked one or more essential elements from the beginning.
The Pauline privilege aims to address the particular circumstances of non-sacramental marriages and provides an avenue for conversion and the establishment of new Christian marriages for those who seek it.
Etymology of PAULINE PRIVILEGE
The term "Pauline privilege" refers to a Catholic Church concept that allows the dissolution of a valid but non-consummated marriage between two baptized individuals. The phrase itself is derived from the teachings of Saint Paul, specifically 1 Corinthians 7:12-15.
In this biblical passage, Saint Paul addresses the issue of marriages between a believer and a non-believer. He advises that if the non-believing spouse is willing to continue the marriage, then it should be preserved for the sake of the believer. However, if the non-believer wants to separate, the believer should let them go, and the marriage will be considered dissolved. This teaching has been interpreted by the Catholic Church as a basis for allowing the dissolution of valid non-consummated marriages.
Therefore, the term "Pauline privilege" emerged from the teachings of Saint Paul and his advice on these specific circumstances.
