Why did Catholicism historically ban divorce?

[darklordoftech]

We all know that Henry VIII formed the Church of England in order to divorce Catherine of Aragon, but I have no clue why the Catholic Church forbade divorce to begin with. Could someone fill me in?

[DC Al Fine]

Because Jesus Christ opposed divorce:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[TPIG]

Because a union made before God is not meant to be something easily thrown away.

[Sestak]

I think the previous responses suffice for the religious point of view.

From an atheist point of view, it makes complete sense. The goal of religion is to create a stable and successful society. It is widely agreed (and was when the Bible was written) that children's lives are more stable with both their parents in an exclusive, permanent domestic partnership. The idea of such a partnership in the form of marriage was already in place by then, and Christian leaders chose to strengthen the exclusivity by declaring adultery and premarital sex sins and the permanence by not allowing divorce.

[Blue3]

Because Jesus himself was very strictly anti-divorce.

[Meclazine for Israel]

Jesus said the lawyers will make too much money.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Because of the need to procreate children. But, since the world is overpopulated and need for adoptions, then the need to stay married wasn't necessary.

[HillGoose]

because they're hypocrites.

My mother is strongly Catholic, she cheated on my father constantly, and pretty much made him lose his mind, and then divorced him for another man, but apparently she still thinks she's better than him because he isn't baptized as Catholic.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

because they're hypocrites.

My mother is strongly Catholic, she cheated on my father constantly, and pretty much made him lose his mind, and then divorced him for another man, but apparently she still thinks she's better than him because he isn't baptized as Catholic.

"They"?

[HillGoose]

because they're hypocrites.

My mother is strongly Catholic, she cheated on my father constantly, and pretty much made him lose his mind, and then divorced him for another man, but apparently she still thinks she's better than him because he isn't baptized as Catholic.

"They"?

I attended a Catholic school as a child. It was the worst experience of my life. I was treated worse as a child in Catholic school than I ever have been anywhere else in my entire life. The school seemed to literally encourage the other children to attack me.