Crimen: Impediment to Marriage

This topic is getting quite a bit of comment on blogs since Edward Peters sent it out to those on his mailing list.

In the time I have had the email, I have had time to think, and to read others thoughts. And now I have a question.

Having written about this in January 2004, two years ago, and again shortly after it was announced that Michael Schiavo married Jodi Centonze this past Saturday in the Catholic Church, what is Dr Edward Peters going to do about it?

Besides write about it, that is.

Anything?

Many of us complain about a variety of wrongs and do nothing.

In the adoption field, there are many who need updated Medical Histories, but never try to get the laws changed, and never do anything but complain about the fact that they are not allowed to know.

In the Marriage/Divorce field, many complain that there are too many divorces, and that it is too easy to GET a divorce, but do nothing to solve the problem by trying to get the laws changed, speaking Truth to friends and family when they stray, etc.

So, is this going to be another talk about, but take no action kind of event? If so, then we are not the Church Militant part of the Church Universal. We are not part of the Mystical Body of Christ, called to be Light and Salt to the World.

We are gossips. Gossips with lights hidden under a bushel, whose salt has lost its flavor.

So, Canon Lawyers (who may be the only ones who can do anything about the impediment of Crimen)... what action will you take, if any?

And what is the average lay man supposed to do besides shake our heads and wring our hands that yet another scandal may be taking place?

Just thinking out loud........and remembering the Spiritual Work of Mercy to Admonish the Sinners.....

God bless!

Ezekiel 3:
17: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

18: If I say to the wicked, `You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

19: But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you will have saved your life.

20: Again, if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.

21: Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you will have saved your life."

Related Tags: Edward Peters, Canon Lawyer, Canon Law, Crimen, Impediment to Marriage, Michael Schiavo, Catholic