Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
Your Term:
CRIME
An invalidating impediment to Christian marriage, arising from a grave public sin committed by one or both parties. It affects persons who, during the existence of a lawful marriage, have consummated adultery together and have mutually promised each other to marry, or have attempted marriage even by a mere civil act; those who, likewise during the existence of the same lawful marriage, have consummated adultery together, and one of whom has killed the lawful spouse; those who, even without committing adultery, have by mutual co-operation, physical or moral, killed the lawful spouse.
