at things in particular should persons arranging for their
marriage make known to the priest?
A. Persons arranging for their marriage should make known to the priest
whether both are Christians and Catholics; whether either has been
solemnly engaged to another person; whether they have ever made any vow
to God with regard to chastity or the like; whether they are related and
in what degree; whether either was ever married to any member of the
other's family and whether either was ever godparent in baptism for the
other.

Q. 1021. What else must they make known?
A. They must also make known whether either was married before and what
proof can be given of the death of the former husband or wife; whether
they really intend to get married, and do so of their own will; whether
they are of lawful age; whether they are sound in body or suffering from
any deformity that might prevent their marriage, and lastly, whether
they live in the parish in which they ask to be married, and if so, how
long they have lived in it.

Q. 1022. What is particularly necessary that persons may do their duty
in the marriage state?
A. That persons may do their duty in the marriage state, it is
particularly necessary that they should be well instructed, before
entering it, in the truths and duties of their religion for how will
they teach their children these things if they are ignorant of them
themselves?

Q. 1023. {284} Can the bond of Christian marriage be dissolved by any
human power?
A. The bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by any human
power.

Q. 1024. Does not a divorce granted by courts of justice break the bond
of marriage?
A. Divorce granted by courts of justice or by any human power does not
break the bond of marriage, and one who makes use of such a divorce to
marry again while the former husband or wife lives commits a sacrilege
and lives in the sin of adultery. A civil divorce may give a sufficient
reason for the persons to live apart and it may determine their rights
with regard to support, the control of the children and other temporal
things, but it has no effect whatever upon the bond and spiritual nature
of the Sacrament.

Q. 1025. Does not the Church sometimes allow husband and wife to
separate and live apart?
A. The Church sometimes, for very good reasons, does allow husband and
wife to separate and live apart; but that is not dissolving the bond of
marriage, or divorce as it is called, for though separated