Whether Shrek unjustly broke up a valid sacramental marriage between Fiona and Lord Farquaad?
Objection 1: It would seem that Shrek did unjustly break up a valid Catholic marriage. For the Our Lord says, βWhat God has joined together, let no man separateβ (Matt. 19:6). But Fiona was given in marriage to Lord Farquaad, and Shrek impeded their union. Therefore, Shrek acted against divine law.
Objection 2: Further, matrimony is a sacrament of the Church, signifying the union of Christ and the Church. To interrupt such a union is to commit a grave offense. But Shrek, by interfering with Fionaβs wedding, did precisely this. Therefore, his actions are to be condemned.
Objection 3: Moreover, Lord Farquaad, though morally dubious, was a lawful ruler and had entered a legitimate courtship. Shrek, being an ogre and dwelling apart from civil society, had no jurisdiction in the matter. Therefore, he acted outside his proper order.
SED CONTRA, It is written (Genesis 2:24), βA man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.β But a forced marriage does not reflect this mutual joining of wills. Lord Farquaad sought Fiona not out of love but for power. Thus, no true matrimonial consent existed.
I answer that, a valid sacramental marriage requires free and mutual consent between the parties, directed toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. Lord Farquaad, motivated by vainglory and dominion, did not intend these goods, but rather sought Fiona for her royal status. Moreover, Fionaβs consent was impeded by external coercion and the concealment of her true self.
Shrek, in recognizing Fionaβs dignity and loving her in her true nature, acted in accord with natural and divine law, which places authentic love and free consent above the mere externalities of ceremony. His intervention, though disorderly in manner, upheld the higher order of truth and love.
Therefore, Fionaβs marriage to Farquaad was not sacramentally valid, lacking true consent and proper disposition. Shrek, in liberating her, did not dissolve a valid marriage, but prevented the appearance of one. In this, his ogrely zeal was, by grace, rightly ordered.
Reply to Objection 1: The bond which God joins is made through true consent. But here, consent was lacking due to deceit and force. Therefore, the bond was not of God.
Reply to Objection 2: The sacrament is not valid where the proper matter and form are deficient. A political union devoid of charity is not a sacrament, but a parody thereof.
Reply to Objection 3: Though Shrek lacked civil status, natural law is prior to civil law. Love, being of God, justifies even an ogre when he defends the truth.
Shrek broke up a Catholic marriage btw