Chapter X: Concerning the Dissolution of Conjugal Life

- A matrimony validly celebrated makes the spouses one thing and obliges them to live together perpetually in communion of dwelling, table, and bed. For without a partnership of life of this kind, the fulfillment of conjugal duties becomes impossible. Nevertheless, the common life between spouses is apt to be dissolved or to cease in various ways, legitimately or illegitimately, perpetually or for a time, totally or partially. Already above at nn. 11-14 we spoke concerning the diverse cases in which the matrimonial bond itself can be broken. But, the conjugal bond remaining, there can be place for separation of the spouses on account of causes admitted by the Church herself; and besides, in many modern nations there is in force the most evil law of civil divorce. Therefore, so that the steward of souls may know clearly what he ought to do both toward spouses who seek to be separated from one another or have already departed, and toward those who wish to have recourse to civil divorce or have already obtained it, we shall treat in two distinct articles:

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