On Adulterous Marriages

In response to Pollentiuss inquiry about separation due to adultery, St. Augustine composed the thought-provoking work On Adulterous Marriages. Pollentius argued that a wife could remarry if she left her husband for his infidelity, interpreting St. Pauls teachings as applicable only to those who marry for reasons beyond adultery. St. Augustine counters this view, asserting that the prohibition applies to women who depart for this very cause. Furthermore, Pollentius claimed that believers in a marriage could not abandon their unbelieving partners, while St. Augustine clarifies that, although not encouraged, it is permissible according to St. Paul. As we delve into the second book, we discover the overwhelming demand for St. Augustines writings led to their publication by those around him, often without his prior consent. - Summary by Claude Fleury in The Ecclesiastical History