May a couple married in the Church, then divorced, resume marital relations if they reconcile?
The short answer
Yes. For a Catholic, civil divorce has no effect on a sacramental marriage. The spouses always keep the right to express their vows sexually, and if they reconcile they are free to live as husband and wife.
For Catholics, divorce is purely a civil matter and does nothing to the validity of a sacramental marriage. Husband and wife always keep the right to express their marriage vows sexually. If they reconcile, they are certainly free to live as husband and wife again.
Continue exploring
- Can a woman whose husband divorced her receive Communion?Q&A
- Can divorced people be godparents or confirmation sponsors?Q&A
- Can my friend marry civilly before her fiancé's annulment, then have the marriage blessed?Q&A
- I'm thinking about divorce. What does the Church say about it?Q&A
- If two married Lutherans divorce civilly, can either remarry in the Catholic Church?Q&A
- Is divorce a sin when one's spouse is abusive?Q&A