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is markedly counter.culture in maintaining, p.-eoching and teaching this value. Affirming this does not deny other strands of the Catholic heritage which have been inoperotive since the first millenium. These manifested greater pastoral flexibility and were considered ta be in keeping with the "evongelical and apostolic·doctrine." Such- stronds of our tradition wouldodditionally:··i~clude .the solution of Origen, and the use of "economy." The cou~cil of Trent was careful to phraSe i"ts ~-~~d~hfrlg so·.théù the EC:istefn · pradice of "economy" was not condemned. lts intent was ta defend the (athalie teaching against the Reformers and to affirm thot Catholic practice was consistent with Christ's teaching and apostolic doctrine.
The present pastoral tosk of the Church is to re-learn the radical and irrevocable feoture of Christian morriage "forever" and meon it; and justice and compassion to foiled. Only those who do not understond grace, election, tion in Christ ore uncomfortable with this poradox.
two things weil: which must say those who have sin and redemp-
IMPEDIMENTS, CONSENT, FORM OF MARRIAGE 16. What are marriage impediments? lmpediments ore obstacles thot stand in the way of people entering morriage. Sorne of these obstacles are of the notural arder like age and certain degrees of relationship; some are legisloted by the Church like the prohibition forbidding "mixed-marrioge" etc, Obviously sorne of these impediments are dispensable, and seme are not. Behind these impediments lie in sorne instances the law of nature, and in ether situations the wisdom and proctice of the Church. Sorne impediments are so outomotically dispensed 1e.g., the impediment of mixed-morriage) thot it is postorolly better to explain the dispensation as "permission" from the Bishop so the marriage con toke place. ln this context the perfunctory nature of the dispensotion of the impediment to mixed-marriage should be subordinated and the pastoral dialogue structured along the lines of whot common values ore present, whot faith is shared between them etc. As the couple ore drown together in articuloting the goals end vision thot bind them together they ore building a case of why the Bishop's "permission" should be granted.
17. Why is matrimonial consent so important? The Catholic tradition hos historically concentrated on the free consent of the parties as essentiel to marrioge. As the Code of Conon Law says, "no humon power con -supply for this consent" (canon 1081). This is natural and reasonable. Roman Law stated thot "consent mokes the marrioge," and this consensuel con cern was attractive to the eorly Church Fathers so onxious to preserve the stotus of true marriage for the Mory-