Question:
Answer:
You note Matthew 5:32. As Jesus elaborates in Matthew 19:8, Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of the ancient Israelites’ hearts, including out of concern that wives might be otherwise killed.
So we see that the prescriptions of Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which regarded Israelite women, and 21:10-14, which regarded the women of conquered nations, were concessions permitted by Moses and God, not immutable teachings like the Ten Commandments issued in Exodus 20.
In addition, as Jesus makes clear in Matthew 19:9, the real issue is not simply divorcing a spouse but remarrying someone else after doing so, which would be adultery, and Jesus conveys he’s restoring the norm God the Father instituted with our first parents (Adam and Eve) in citing Genesis 2:23-24 in Matthew 19:4-6.
When two Christians have validly married and consummated their marriage, the only thing that can end their marriage bond is the death of either one of them. If Christian spouses believe they may have had deficient consent when they exchanged their wedding vows (see CCC 1625-29), they may petition a diocesan tribunal to evaluate whether that is true. If the tribunal affirmed there was deficient consent on the part of one or both spouses, the couple would receive a declaration of nullity or annulment. (This would be an application of the Church’s God-given power to bind and loose [see Matt. 16:18-19; 18:15-18]).
Finally, there are very limited cases in which marriages can be dissolved. If there is concern, contact your parish pastor and diocesan marriage tribunal for more information in that regard.