TTSNBSIM 9: "Jesus First Gave Women the Chance to Initiate Divorce"

TTSNBSIM (Things That Should Never Be Said In Mass)

#9: "Jesus First Gave Women the Chance to Initiate Divorce"

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This series is on the subject of things that I've heard said at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which should, in reality, never be said there.  Often, it's because these things are incorrect, but occasionally, it's simply because the remark, as stated, is not explained well enough, and will inevitably be misinterpreted.  In the latter case, the post will also contain an explanation of why this is, as well as proposed -alternatives,- which make the intended statement a bit more clear.

I'm sure this lie in uncommonly rare, but I've heard it said at Mass, so here goes.  Basically, it's being said, by some, that Jesus' words to the pharisees on the subject of divorce were for for the purpose of refuting the entirely male-centric divorce practices of the day (only men could initiate divorce with a note of divorce,) and introduce this power to women as well.

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Nothing could be -less- supported by the scriptures.

"He saith to them: Because Moses by reason of the hardness of your heart permitted you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so."
Matthew 19:8

Notice the wording here.  "Moses -permitted.-"  When something is -permitted,- that means that without that permission, it would be -forbidden.-  What Jesus is saying here is -not- that women should be allowed to divorce as well as men.  Obviously, what he's saying is that God does not mean to allow -any form- of divorce.  Ever.

The seeming exception that Jesus offers (which is often translated as "unchastity," or "adultery,") is actually neither of these things, but something else.  It appears alongside the words for unchastity and adultery in lists in the new testament.  Therefore, it must signify something other than these.  Even in the case of adultery, divorce is still forbidden.

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Secondly, this should not be said in Mass, because it defies the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on divorce.

"The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2382, 1st sentence.

This means that if you express anything contrary to this in Mass, you are misleading the people, and probably committing a heresy as well.

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I can totally understand how hard it is for some priests to cope with just how horribly immoral our modern society is.  Nevertheless, it won't become any -more- moral if you don't face the problem head-on.  Divorce is -always- wrong, and to imply anything else, and worse, to misrepresent the teachings of Jesus, is an affront to the most holy sacrament, and a sign of extreme disrespect or disregard for the Holy Eucharist.