Pastoral Solution for Polygamous Marriages “presents a difficulty” for Church in Africa: Catholic Theologian, Canonist

“One question we can legitimately ask ourselves is what would happen if all the wives, or only one, other than the first or only one chosen by the polygamous spouse, decided to follow the catechumen to access baptism. One answer we can attempt is that if the wives are dismissed and no longer cohabit with the polygamous spouse as required by canon law, they can receive baptism and contract a valid marriage,” the Burkinabe Catholic Nun said.

Participants in the July 26 event explored the topic, “Some Theological and Canonical Matters Regarding Specific Ministerial Forms and Pastoral Issues”.

Apart from polygamy, the participants shared other pressing issues they said had the potential to “shape Africa’s ecclesial landscape” such as the possibility for female deacons, and the need for new ministry structures. They explored what they referred to as “an interplay between African tradition and change within the Church.”

The palaver was hinged on the Synthesis Report that came out of the October 2023 session of the Synod on Synodality, particularly the section that mentions the need for African voices on polygamy, which is considered a pastoral issue of great significance on the continent.

A section of participants in the palaver shared that they come from polygamous homes, with either their paternal or maternal grandfathers having had more than one wife. Some shared that their fathers were polygamous. Others at the session shared that they had more than one wives.

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Those in polygamous marriages that the Catholic Church classifies as irregular explored the possibility of their unions being formalized in Church and being allowed to receive the sacraments.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1645), "The unity of marriage, distinctly recognized by our Lord, is made clear in the equal personal dignity which must be accorded to man and wife in mutual and unreserved affection." 

While CCC 1645 terms polygamy a practice that is “contrary to conjugal love which is undivided and exclusive”, CCC 1646 goes on to explain that polygamy is a practice that contravenes the principle of fidelity of conjugal love, for “by its very nature conjugal love requires the inviolable fidelity of the spouses. This is the consequence of the gift of themselves which they make to each other. Love seeks to be definitive; it cannot be an arrangement ‘until further notice.’”

In her presentation during the July 26 palaver, Sr. Sory reminded participants that marriage in the Catholic Church is presented as a union between one man and women.

Marriage, the coordinating servant II of PACTPAN said, is “a communion of life, a profound communion of life.”

“This profound communion of life requires a communion of bodies, a communion of spirits, a communion of thought in joys as in sufferings,” she emphasized.

Sr. Sory explored the question, “What canonical issues need to be understood, appreciated, retained or revised in the pastoral accompaniment of polygamous couples in Africa?” that was posed by the July 26 event organizers.

The lecturer in the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University noted that the Church emphasizes the “profound communion of life achieved by the spouses”, as well as the aspect of procreation.

“In terms of the purpose of marriage, polygamy is not radically opposed to the procreation and education of children,” she said, and added that polygamy, however, makes it difficult for spouses to provide the mutual support they have a right to expect from each other.

“Can we speak of deep communion with each of the wives or with the polygamous couple?” she posed, and continued, “Our experience shows that the wives of polygamists sometimes find it difficult to obtain from the same man the equitable support they have a right to expect from him, and that the polygamist husband sometimes suffers from emotional exhaustion.”

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She noted that the Church provides a pastoral solution for cases of polygamy, acknowledging that monogamous marriage is not always practiced.

The July 26 event is the latest in the series of digital palavers that theologians and other experts in Africa have organized to deepen the understanding of the Synthesis Report that came out of the October 2023 session of the Synod on Synodality.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.