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Objection 1: It would seem that one can be compelled by one's
father's command to marry. For it is written (Col. 3:20):
"Children, obey your parents in all things." Therefore they are
bound to obey them in this also.
Objection 2: Further, Isaac charged Jacob (Gn. 28:1) not
to take a wife from the daughters of Chanaan. But he would not have
charged him thus unless he had the right to command it. Therefore a
son is bound to obey his father in this.
Objection 3: Further, no one should promise, especially with an
oath, for one whom he cannot compel to keep the promise. Now parents
promise future marriages for their children, and even confirm their
promise by oath. Therefore they can compel their children to keep that
promise.
Objection 4: Further, our spiritual father, the Pope to wit, can
by his command compel a man to a spiritual marriage, namely to accept a
bishopric. Therefore a carnal father can compel his son to marriage.
On the contrary, A son may lawfully enter religion though his father
command him to marry. Therefore he is not bound to obey him in this.
Further, if he were bound to obey, a betrothal contracted by the
parents would hold good without their children's consent. But this is
against the law (cap. Ex litteris, De despon. impub.).
Therefore, etc.
I answer that, Since in marriage there is a kind of perpetual
service, as it were, a father cannot by his command compel his son to
marry, since the latter is of free condition: but he may induce him
for a reasonable cause; and thus the son will be affected by his
father's command in the same way as he is affected by that cause, so
that if the cause be compelling as indicating either obligation or
fitness, his father's command will compel him in the same measure:
otherwise he may not compel him.
Reply to Objection 1: The words of the Apostle do not refer to
those matters in which a man is his own master as the father is. Such
is marriage by which the son also becomes a father.
Reply to Objection 2: There were other motives why Jacob was bound
to do what Isaac commanded him, both on account of the wickedness of
those women, and because the seed of Chanaan was to be cast forth from
the land which was promised to the seed of the patriarchs. Hence
Isaac could command this.
Reply to Objection 3: They do not swear except with the implied
condition "if it please them"; and they are bound to induce them in
good faith.
Reply to Objection 4: Some say that the Pope cannot command a man
to accept a bishopric, because consent should be free. But if this be
granted there would be an end of ecclesiastical order, for unless a man
can be compelled to accept the government of a church, the Church
could not be preserved, since sometimes those who are qualified for the
purpose are unwilling to accept unless they be compelled. Therefore we
must reply that the two cases are not parallel; for there is no bodily
service in a spiritual marriage as there is in the bodily marriage;
because the spiritual marriage is a kind of office for dispensing the
public weal: "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of
Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God" (1 Cor.
4:1).
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