TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE PROMULGATION OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: DOCTRINAL FOUNDATIONS FOR MARRIAGE

The article treats the theological foundations of the teaching of the Church on marriage in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II's on June 25, 1992. An analysis of the placement of the treatment of marriage in the structure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church serves as a reminder of the fact that the teaching of the Church does not limit itself to the Christian marriage but extends to every marriage as intended by God for the whole of the humanity. Particular attention is directed to the issues related to the notion of the marriage covenant and the principle of indissolubility of marriage, in response to some most recent developments in the Church's pronouncements and canonical literature on this subject matter. Some theological and canonical solutions attempting to redefine the concept of the bond of marriage and, consequently, the understanding of the indissolubility of manage are presented and critically assessed.