This important volume examines the Catholic Church's doctrine on the indissolubility of marriage as taught by the 16th century Ecumenical Council of Trent (1545-1563). In the Council's reply to Reformation challenges on the sacraments; it took up the question of whether anything―in particular; adultery―could dissolve a sacramental marriage. The question was discussed at length in 1547; and again; after a lengthy delay; in 1563. The considerations culminated in doctrinal definitions on marriage invested with the full authority of the Catholic Church. For historical reasons that the author considers in detail (reason related to the relationship between Rome and the Greek Orthodox churches); the most important of these definitions―Canon 7―was ambiguously worded. This has led to a centuries-long debate on the intentions of the council for the meaning of that canon; and; indeed for the council's wider teaching on martial indissolubility. E. Christian Brugger aims to shed light on this debate.The Indissolubility of Marriage and the Council of Trent begins by laying out the fundamental questions addressed by Trent; the ambiguities of Canon 7; and the nature of the interpretive debate that's been underway since the early seventeenth century. It examines the views on divorce and remarriage of Luther and Calvin as the council fathers would have known them; as well as the beliefs and practices of the Greek churches. It then undertakes an analysis of the conciliar discussions as recorded in Trent's formal register (the Acta) and other primary documents. Brugger further provides an interpretation of the Council's final teaching on indissolubility. This interpretation draws attention to subtleties overlooked by most commentators on Trent. These have either over-interpreted the scope of the Council's teaching; arguing that its canons explicitly placed the divorce practices of Greek Christians under an anathema; or they have argued that the Council; intending no more than to strike the heresies of the Protestants; exempted Greek divorce from its authoritative promulgations. Drawing on both interpretations but siding with neither; Brugger proposes that Trent did indeed dogmatically teach the absolute indissolubility of sacramental marriage; while conceding a policy of toleration―but not approval―for Greek divorce for the sake of ecclesial communion between the churches.
#3373047 in Books The University Press of Kentucky 2011-08-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.12 x .85 x 6.38l; 1.02 #File Name: 0813134145240 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. They don't get any better....By WallerishLiving in Louisville; KY and having known at least one well-respected local "historian;" I'm always interested in the convoluted; sometimes strangely recalcitrant history of our area; one whose identity has been shaped by a multiplicity of people and events and one that is misunderstood to this very day... especially by the local inhabitants themselves. When I first heard about this book; I was expecting a treatise; a kind of literary dissection; on the intimate communication between Cecelia and Fanny. It took only a few pages into the book to discover that not only was I quite wrong on that point; but that the "recalcitrant history" I just alluded to would be used as a kind of contextual backdrop for the enduring personal relationship of the two protagonists. I'm amazed at how Mr. Asher is able to weave such a small amount of information on Cecelia and Fanny into a detailed; big-picture drama that transcends the lives of the two ladies and at the same time provides the reader with a far greater understanding of the day-to-day and year-to-year impacts on their lives. I'm not sure if this book is more like "History Detectives" or "Gone with the Wind;" but be assured it contains elements of both. I'm also not sure if this book has been nominated for any historical or literary awards; but in my humble view; if it hasn't; it should be. Histories don't get any better than this.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful history of slavery Civil WarBy Millie MI live in Louisville; so the details of this book are of particular interest; but the story and the historic events are certainly applicable to many areas of the country. The lives of two families; the white owners; a prominent Louisville family; and one of their female slaves and her daughter are followed from the 1840s until the end of the century.The author relates the process of slave owners "learning" how to carry out that role; and provides a heart-rending portrait of how slaves were handled; what just the fact of being property meant to them as individuals; and how it affected the slave families both before and after the war. The politics and events of the Civil War in Louisville and Kentucky are described in detail; as well as the life of escaped slaves in Northern US cities and in Canada. Because it is a history of real people the story is particularly emotional and touching; and the history of this time truly comes alive.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. a great read; though the friendship wasn't unusualBy J. PainterThis book does an excellent job of describing what life was like for real people who were slaves and slave owners in America before; and after; the Civil War. The stories of Fanny and Cecelia and their families are skillfully interwoven with all the background material needed to understand their stories. And I was pleased that Asher was careful to draw the lines between fact; speculation; and the unknowable.The subtitle is slightly annoying - the "friendship" sounded normal enough; not "remarkable". It's not a close friendship; they don't feel compelled to see each other. If you've ever known someone who worked as a housemaid for the same family for several years; this relationship will seem familiar.
