Catholics who are in an abusive or unhappy relationship are not forbidden from obtaining a divorce, which is a civil procedure. They are committing no sin by getting divorced and should continue to play a full and active role in the Church. Catholics who are divorced and remarried, however, are in a different position. Since the first marriage remains intact, there can be no valid second union. They are, however, encouraged to come to Mass and participate as fully as their state allows.
Marriage is in crisis.
As things stand almost half of all new marriages will end in divorce. Preparation for marriage is therefore very important. Children are the main victims of divorce. Research carried out by sociologists like Professor Halsley, Norman Denis and Patricia Morgan, as well as journalists like Melanie Phillips, consistently shows children that are from broken homes die earlier, have more illnesses, do less well at school, have poorer nutrition, suffer more unemployment and are more likely to commit crime and repeat the cycle of unstable parenting. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1603, 1621-32.