“Marriage Advice for a Pope: John XXII and the Power to Dissolve”,

by Patrick Nold, D.Phil. (Oxford, 1999) is Assistant Professor of History at the State University of New York at Albany.

The Medieval Church taught that marriage was indissoluble and that consent was the key. Why then could a marriage be dissolved by one spouse joining a religious order after an exchange of consent but before consummation?

This question vexed Thirteenth-century academics and, in the fourteenth century, Pope John XXII asked a group of leading theologians and lawyers to study the issue. Position-papers were produced to explain the exception to the rule of indissolubility for chaste monks and nuns, and to explore whether the pope had the power to extend it to celibate priests and deacons.

These texts, edited here, were used by John XXII to draft his bull Antique Concertationi (1322). This study reconstructs the story behind the constitution, providing a unique insight into the decision-making process at the Roman curia in Avignon under a controversial pope.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marriage-Advice-Pope-Dissolve-Medieval/dp/9004171118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307477588&sr=1-1

[Albert Farrugia – Because it’s one thing calling for a secular state, and another thing talking about “discrimination”].

Straw man. Who exactly is talking about “discrimination”? Names and a reference link, please.

[Albert Farrugia – Atheists dont believe in fairy stories, which is fine. But they seem to believe the fairy stories they themselves spin. Like that in Malta they are suffering “discrimination”].

Straw man. Again, who is this atheist that is saying he is discriminated because of atheism? Names please.

[Albert Farrugia – This is, simply, not true].

We would be in a position to judge, if only you tell us what you are talking about. Or is it just another fairy story of yours?

[Albert Farrugia – What they are suffering from is their lack of ability to understand history].

Sure. That must be it.

[Albert Farrugia – Malta has been a Catholic country for centuries, and its structure and institutions bear that mark].

False. There have always been people of different beliefs in Malta, even when people of different beliefs were actually persecuted (literally) by Christians.

[Albert Farrugia – Now, however, that is slowly changing. But it cannot change overnight. It’s a process, an evolution].

You do know that religion is personal, and shouldn’t be imposed, do you?

[Albert Farrugia – Of course, I can understand that proclaiming oneself as a martyr has its “cool” factor].

Yes, except that it is usually Christians who think of themselves as martyrs, not atheists. Like when some Christian insists on breaking the law and not allowing gay people in his hotel, and then shouting “discrimination”.

[Albert Farrugia – But I would not suggest that road. Just as it’s so, so “cool” to call anyone who has a spiritual belief to be a “fundamentalist”].

Someone who tries to impose religious belief, even through legislation if possible, IS a fundamentalist. So is someone who believes Malta is Catholic, just because he wishes it were so.

As it is divided into three sub-articles, do all the three require a two-thirds majority to be removed? Or sub-articles 1 and 3 can be removed by a simple majority?

[Daphne – The Constitution can only be amended by two-thirds vote in the house.]

I do not accept the ‘big GIRL’ label, simply because the Church treats women in a very paternalistic way.

Not when just a few years ago the former archbishop intimated, if I am not mistaken during the Christmas period, that women who work are bad mothers.

Not when such an important matter as divorce is labelled as a sin in ANY circumstance.

Female emancipation it seems, is something that the Catholic Church in Malta has conveniently ignored in its views in what concerns society in general and families in particular.

Therefore, I propose that the Catholic Church is a big LAD and can handle itself… sometimes employing thug strategies.

Because it’s one thing calling for a secular state, and another thing talking about “discrimination”. Atheists dont believe in fairy stories, which is fine. But they seem to believe the fairy stories they themselves spin. Like that in Malta they are suffering “discrimination”.

This is, simply, not true. What they are suffering from is their lack of ability to understand history.

Malta has been a Catholic country for centuries, and its structure and institutions bear that mark. Now, however, that is slowly changing. But it cannot change overnight.

It’s a process, an evolution.

Of course, I can understand that proclaiming oneself as a martyr has its “cool” factor. But I would not suggest that road. Just as it’s so, so “cool” to call anyone who has a spiritual belief to be a “fundamentalist”.

Sorry, I meant hypocrisy. When I refer to the Church I usually get hypocrisy mixed up with ‘democracy’. The rock is an excellent example at the moment.

“…atheists are even being denied communion!”

Well, it’s more of a dietary choice.