Contraception And Annulment

[Archaeology cat]

Given the prevalence of women being on the pill at marriage (many having had doctors prescribe it for some problem or another), how would that impact the validity of the marriage? What about when they stopped taking it?

[cappie]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' timestamp='1336067709' post='2426555']
Given the prevalence of women being on the pill at marriage (many having had doctors prescribe it for some problem or another), how would that impact the validity of the marriage? What about when they stopped taking it?
[/quote]

In the Canon on the consummation of marriage, if the baptized man and woman have exchanged vows with proper consent, in a marriage ceremony with proper form, then their marriage is ratified, but not yet consummated.

In order to consummate the marriage, they must have natural marital relations open to life. If they use contraception continuously, from the time of their vows and thereafter, then their marriage is not consummated. They in fact do not have a valid Sacrament of Marriage. Subsequently they engage in natural marital relations open to life, then they have the full Sacrament of holy Matrimony. For only then is their marriage both ratified and consummated.

Natural marital relations open to life is an essential part of the Sacrament of Marriage. Defects that substantially affect this required element of marriage can invalidate the marriage. For the Sacrament is ordered primarily toward the procreation and education of children as its first purpose and highest good.