Impediment In Marriage: Things That Render A Person Unqualified For Marriage
You may have heard these words often said during the announcement of the names of intending couples in the Church, ‘whoever knows what will prevent these people from being united in marriage, let him or her inform the parish priest’. What does it really mean? Can anything really prevent couples from being married?
The Canon Law of the Catholic Church clearly disclosed some impediments which can render a person unqualified for marriage. These impediments are called diriment Impediments (Can. 1073).
The impediments are listed below:
1. Lack of Age (Can 1083):
A man before he has completed his sixteen year of age and a woman before she has completed fourteen year of age cannot enter into a valid marriage.
2. Impotence (Can 1084):
Antecedent and perpetual impotence to have intercourse, whether absolute or relative, nullifies marriage by its very nature.
3. Prior marriage bond (Can 1085):
A person bound by the bond of a prior marriage, even if it was not consumated, invalidly attempts marriage.
(Expln: consumated > couple had not had sex after bond)
4. Disparity of Worship (Can 1086):
A marriage between two persons, one of whom has been baptised in the catholic church or received into it and has not defected from it by a formal act and the other of whom is not baptised is invalid.
5. Sacred Orders (Can 1087)
Those in sacred orders invalidly attempts marriage.
6. Perpetual vow of chastity (Can 1088):
Those bound by a public perpetual vow of chastity in a religious institute invalidly attempts marriage.
7. Abduction (Can 1088):
No marriage can exist between a man and a woman who has been abducted or at least detained with a view of contracting marriage with her unless the woman chooses marriage of her own accord after the captor and established in a safe and free place.
8. Crime (Can 1090):
Anyone who with a view to entering marriage with a certain person has brought about the death of that person’s spouse or of one’s own spouse invalidly attempts this marriage. ( it includes both mutual, physical or moral cooperation )
9. Consanguinity (Can 1091):
In the direct line of Consanguinity, marriage is invalid between all ancestors and descendants, both legitimate and natural ( nwanwa, nwadiala, umu-umu, cousins, nephews etc)
10. Affinity (Can 1092):
Affinity in the direct line in any degree invalidates a marriage. (Ikuchi nwanyi)
11. Public Proprietary (Can 1093):
The impediment of public propriety arises from an invalid marriage after the establishment of common life or from notorious or public concubinage. It nullifies marriage in the first degree of the direct line between the man and the blood relatives of the woman and vice versa
12. Adoption (Can 1094):
Those who are related in the direct line or in the second degree of the collateral line by a legal relationship arising from adoption cannot contract marriage together validly.
So, when next a marriage request is called, check through the above list and see if any of the couples is affected and act accordingly.
Thank you.