Marriage and Virginity (continued)
27. The primary and most important obligation is not to do what is wrong. When, however, something is not wrong, and at the same time doing something else is also not wrong, one should do the thing that does good, or the one that does more good. When, therefore, the Lord says something as Lord, that is to say, not by way of advice and guidance but with his authority as Lord, it is wrong not to do it, and consequently no good comes from it either. The Lord therefore gave the command: A woman is not to leave her husband; but if she does leave (for a reason, of course, that entitles her to leave) she must either stay unmarried or be reconciled to her husband (1 Cor 7:10-11). While her husband is alive, a married woman is united by the law to her husband; and While her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress if she goes with another man (Rom 7:2-3); because, a woman is bound as long as her husband lives (1 Cor 7:39). Hence, If a wife divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery (Mk 10:12), and, Anyone who marries a woman divorced by her husband commits adultery (Mt 19:9; Lk 16:18). Hence, too, from the same command of the Lord, a husband too may not divorce his wife (1 Cor 7:11), because anyone who divorces his wife, apart from the case of adultery, causes her to commit adultery (1 Cor 7:11). If, however, he does divorce her for that reason, he too must stay in that state, for everyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery (Lk 16:18).
The Lord's Commands Must Be Followed Absolutely
22. These laws established by the Lord must be observed without any diminution. Whether men and women approve or do not approve, this is required by justice, which he upholds.
Therefore we must not say they do not have to be observed because people take scandal, or for fear of placing an obstacle to their salvation, which is in Christ. What Christian would dare say, "In order not to offend people, and to win them for Christ, I will cause my wife to commit adultery, and I too will become an adulterer"?
28. It could happen that after divorcing a wife who committed adultery a Christian was tempted by a woman, not yet herself a believer, who wanted to marry him and promised to become a Christian, not insincerely but actually with the intention of doing this if he married her. If he was rejecting this marriage the tempter could suggest to him: "The Lord said,