Anonymous wrote:However, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage. The Code of Canon Law affirms, “Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage” (#1084.3). Appreciating the suffering of an infertile couple, the Catechism states, “Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice” (#1654). In this case, a couple can consummate the marriage, but they just cannot conceive children.

https://catholicstraightanswers.com/can-a-person-who-cannot-have-children-be-married-in-the-catholic-church/

Marriages must be open to pro-creation and to unity in the Catholic Church. So since women can’t bear children past a certain age most people assume that this kind of marriage would not qualify as a Catholic one.

However, that is not the case. The word “open” is the key word in that sentence. Couples of any age that are unable to bear children are not trying to prevent pregnancy but rather they are simply unable to bear children for whatever reason (menopause or infertility). Their openness to the possibility of children however is still present in the sexual giving of the one to the other. Now that won’t produce a child as wishing can’t really change science, but there could be a miracle! God could choose to give them an unlikely child and that’s the possibility that the church asks them to remain open to. Should God give them a child the church asks that they accept that child with open arms despite the unlikeliness of it.

https://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/what-is-the-churchs-view-on-older-adults-getting-married-who-cant-have-children

That's what happened to Sara in the Old Testament -- but she wasn't Catholic. Christianity hadn't been invented yet.

However, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage. The Code of Canon Law affirms, “Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage” (#1084.3). Appreciating the suffering of an infertile couple, the Catechism states, “Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice” (#1654). In this case, a couple can consummate the marriage, but they just cannot conceive children.

https://catholicstraightanswers.com/can-a-person-who-cannot-have-children-be-married-in-the-catholic-church/

Marriages must be open to pro-creation and to unity in the Catholic Church. So since women can’t bear children past a certain age most people assume that this kind of marriage would not qualify as a Catholic one.

However, that is not the case. The word “open” is the key word in that sentence. Couples of any age that are unable to bear children are not trying to prevent pregnancy but rather they are simply unable to bear children for whatever reason (menopause or infertility). Their openness to the possibility of children however is still present in the sexual giving of the one to the other. Now that won’t produce a child as wishing can’t really change science, but there could be a miracle! God could choose to give them an unlikely child and that’s the possibility that the church asks them to remain open to. Should God give them a child the church asks that they accept that child with open arms despite the unlikeliness of it.

https://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/what-is-the-churchs-view-on-older-adults-getting-married-who-cant-have-children

Anonymous wrote:Is OP fishing for an answer to the gay marriage question?

My understanding is the church opposed gay marriage because the purpose of marriage is to create life/produce children, which a gay pair (generally) cannot. But following that logic, then the church should ban old or infertile hetero couples from marrying too.

That’s not an accurate description of the theology.

Is OP fishing for an answer to the gay marriage question?

My understanding is the church opposed gay marriage because the purpose of marriage is to create life/produce children, which a gay pair (generally) cannot. But following that logic, then the church should ban old or infertile hetero couples from marrying too.

Anonymous wrote:All the reading I’ve done indicates that American Catholic women have terminations and use birth control at the same rate as other women.

Are there any Catholic women of recent generations who actually withhold sex for the rest of their fertile years once they’ve had all the kids they want?

Your second sentence belies a failure in your research, as PP notes. Totally nutters.

But I don't understand why what you wrote in the first seems to surprise you. I don't get why it is so difficult to understand that human beings don't live up to the sometimes impossible demands of of living a "morally perfect" life. Also, not everyone in a religion agrees with all the edicts of church leaders (not all Catholics are politically pro-life, for example, and for very good reason), many of which are constantly debated among the church religious leaders, and certainly among lay people. Even the Church's position on various "rules" has changed over time and will likely change again. Religion seeks to guide people through this life on Earth by trying to determine the best path toward love. All humans fail at this from time to time, even those who take religious vows, and sometimes especially those who believe they have "all the answers" as to what is required for a moral life. Catholic intellectual tradition states: "The relationship between faith and reason is dynamic (not static) because both faith and reason are involved in a mutual search for and reception of meaning and truth." This requires a constant search for balance, which means allowing for change.

Anonymous wrote:All the reading I’ve done indicates that American Catholic women have terminations and use birth control at the same rate as other women.

Are there any Catholic women of recent generations who actually withhold sex for the rest of their fertile years once they’ve had all the kids they want?

I am actively Catholic, but I used birth control until I had my tubes removed. But I do know a few very devout women who follow natural family planning. That is accepted by the Church. They abstain from sex during their most fertile times.

Anonymous wrote:All the reading I’ve done indicates that American Catholic women have terminations and use birth control at the same rate as other women.

Are there any Catholic women of recent generations who actually withhold sex for the rest of their fertile years once they’ve had all the kids they want?

Married Catholics are not required to withhold sex. In all your supposed reading, you should have learned this. Please educate yourself.

Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born. It would be hypocritical of the church to deny elderly women similar opportunities for a family

All the reading I’ve done indicates that American Catholic women have terminations and use birth control at the same rate as other women.

Are there any Catholic women of recent generations who actually withhold sex for the rest of their fertile years once they’ve had all the kids they want?

Anonymous wrote:There's no age limit on receiving any Sacrament as far as I know.

There may be minimum ages for some Sacraments - Communion and Confirmation come to mind.

There are minimum ages for the sacraments of marriage and holy orders.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend's mom had a baby at 50. Jewish. Already a grandmother.

It happens. They are known as menopause babies.

Menoplay.

Anonymous wrote:No, my mom was late 40s and her husband was late 60s when they got married in the Catholic Church. Both were widowed and also had been married the first time in the church. They did have to go meet with the priest in an abridged pre-Cana which they thought was ridiculous.

PP here - I was off by a decade. My mom was in her late 50s and her husband was late 70s. Time flies!

There's no age limit on receiving any Sacrament as far as I know.

There may be minimum ages for some Sacraments - Communion and Confirmation come to mind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I west to college in the 1990 with a guy whose mom was 50 when she had him back in the early 1970s. (No IVF).

She did not have him at age 50. Don’t be so naive.

NP. My friend had a baby at 50 with no fertility assistance. I was one of her support people and actually saw the baby emerge from her. So it's totally possible.

Anonymous wrote:The requirement is that you are open to life, if that’s the correct term. In theory you could be 70 and “open to life”.

It’s why using birth control is not okay, it is the active use of external means to stop reproduction, meaning you aren’t open to creating new life.

Not passing judgment on whether this makes sense or seems silly, but it’s an explanation.

that doesn’t speak to OP’s question, which is about the age requirement of a valid marriage and whether it is connected to fertility. Canon law does address minimum ages, but as to fertility, it only requires the ability to have reproductive intercourse, even if there is some doubt. Infertility, unless known and concealed prior to marriage, does not invalidate or prevent a marriage. Using birth control (unless the intent is to never have children) would not invalidate a marriage, even if it is against teaching.