"To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And the husband should not divorce his wife." (1 Cor. 7:10-11)
“Divorce, understood as the dissolution of a marriage, is not possible between two believing persons”—so writes St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, echoing the words of Christ Himself. Yet, in the modern United States, first marriages end in divorce between 40 percent and 50 percent of the time, and subsequent marriages fare even worse, with second unions failing 60 to 67 percent of the time, and third marriages surpassing a staggering 70 percent.
Yet, today, in the quiet corners of neighborhoods and the loud public forums of social media, these unraveling marriages spread a contagion that the Catholic Catechism warns against—the epidemic of divorce.
“Marriage is just a mistake, a life adjustment”
It is a common refrain among the disillusioned: marriage is not sacred, merely a choice that can be reversed if it proves inconvenient or uncomfortable. Life changes, priorities shift, and suddenly love is measured not by vows but by personal satisfaction. Friends, colleagues, even casual social encounters reinforce this notion. The argument is seductive: why commit to a lifelong journey when one can pivot, adapt, and seek a “better fit”? Children, finances, the social implications—they are treated as obstacles to individual happiness, not as parts of a covenantal reality.
The Church’s teaching cuts through this cultural fog with uncompromising clarity. Divorce is not a personal convenience; it is a grave offense against natural law (CCC 2384). When a marriage is broken, it introduces disorder not only into the family but into society itself (CCC 2385). Remarriage after divorce, even if legally sanctioned, becomes adultery in the eyes of God (Luke 16:18). The sacred bond of marriage is foundational, primal, inherent in creation—its disruption is never trivial. Here, the Church reminds us that fidelity is more than a romantic gesture; it is an allegiance to God’s natural order and a shield for the innocent spouse and the children caught in the turbulence.
Women need to move on, or men are “the wrong guy”
Another justification frequently arises from social influence, particularly in female circles: “She deserves better. He’s the wrong man. Life is short; happiness must be pursued.” Friends and relatives, well-meaning or self-interested, fan the flames. We see this in countless stories—women encouraged to leave marriages, by other divorcees or men then tempted by younger, women as more understanding partners. In this framework, divorce becomes not only acceptable but virtuous, a mark of self-actualization.
Catholic teaching dismantles this argument decisively. Marital vows are binding, not contingent on mood or temporary disillusionment. A spouse unjustly divorced is blameless (CCC 2386). The moral law of God undergirds the family; separation, where unavoidable, must aim for eventual reconciliation if possible (CIC 1151-1155). Moving on as a personal entitlement is a misreading of life’s moral architecture. True happiness is found not in evasion but in fidelity—faithful love that mirrors Christ’s unwavering commitment to His Church.
Return to natural order, ancient wisdom, and commitment
History offers a cautionary mirror. Even in Ancient Rome, at the time of Christ, Caesar Augustus recognized the social devastation of fractured families. The state codified marriage to stabilize the social order. Today, in evenings spent scrolling iPhones, immersed in social networks, and pursuing material comfort, we witness a similar erosion—the private destruction of homes and hearts. Children bear the scars quietly; communities bear the strain silently. The antidote is neither legal maneuvering nor emotional capitulation but a return to the wisdom embedded in our natural order: marriage as vocation, destiny, and covenant. In this framework, fidelity is not restriction—it is liberation, a participation in the eternal, a defense of the human and divine order.
Divorce is contagious not because it is inevitable but because society has normalized evasion of responsibility. Yet, as Christians, as witnesses to a sacred institution, our response is to uphold what Christ and His Church have commanded. It is to love forever, even when the world whispers that commitment is outdated. It is to live visibly in the truth that marriages, once joined by God, are not disposable. And in that courage, we protect not only our spouses and children but the moral and social fabric itself. As St. John Paul II warned, “The person who does not decide to love forever will find it very difficult to really love for even one day.”