Pauline privilege

As Pauline privilege (Latin privilege Paulinum ) is called a going back to the Apostle Paul special within Christianity to the dissolution of a marriage between Christians and non-Christians.

In Paul's time (ca. 32-64 AD) came before it that some married couples could be converted to the Christian faith and baptism received. However, apparently in some cases led to serious conflicts within the partnership, for example, because of the refusal of the traditional idol sacrifice (1 Cor 10 EU) and the resulting social exclusion and persecution of Christians.

Presumably for these or similar reasons, the Apostle Paul created an exception: If the unbaptized partner want to separate, this is permitted. Due to the so-called Pauline privilege also the baptized partner is no longer bound to the marriage (1 Cor 7.15 EU). In general, the marriage is otherwise but by the people indissoluble (1 Cor 7,11 EU, Lk 16,18 EU).

Today (2008 ), this means that one can dissolve his marriage as a Catholic, for example, when it was closed before the baptism of the now Christian partner and the remaining unbaptized partner refuses the peaceful continuation of marriage, which means that the marriage is not continued within the meaning of the Christian moral law. The previous marriage is dissolved when the Christian has become partner remarries. The new marriage can also be covered with a non-Catholic Christians, or even with a unbaptized.

In contrast to the dissolution of marriage by papal sovereign act, the (also baptized ) and at least one non-baptized partner also because of the Petrine privilege in the form of a dispensation may be granted upon application to a non- consummated marriage, marriage is not in the case of the Pauline privilege the Pope, but when the circumstances require almost " automatically " resolved when the believer become spouse remarries. Therefore, there is no need for resolution procedure in the strict sense, but only the church official determination of the existence of the conditions.

In addition to these three exceptions ( Pauline privilege, not law enforcement, Petri African privilege ), there is a Catholic church law there is no way to "divorce" (solution, suspension ) of a valid marriage, but only the possibility of a separation of the spouses (separate life without the possibility of remarriage ). In addition, a marriage can be annulled if it was invalid from the outset by the Church believes.