[The present teaching of the Catholic Church on the doctrine of indissolubility of marriage has a complex history. It is based upon scriptural, sacramental, ethical, and canonical materials. Here the authors examine two questions: (a) is the teaching capable of change, and (b) is the evidence from the tradition adequate to support the present teaching? They conclude that indissolubility of a ratum et consummatum marriage is a doctrinal teaching open to revision by the magisterium, and that existing arguments are not sufficient to reject all proposals for alteration of the teaching.]