Sorry, we don't make "The Rules"; G-d does.
I'm a divorced Catholic woman, who would love to go to Holy Communion and Penance. But I cannot until an annullment of my first marriage is approved. (which I am in the process of)
Why don't I go to Communion anyway? Because it's against the rules. I could go to another church and partake in their communion service, but I am a Catholic, and always will be.(and believing it be the the true Church Christ founded) I cannot blame the Church for my mistake.
My point is, if you cannot accept the rules, go somewhere else, or up your standards. Don't expect the Church to lower her standards to accommodate. It isn't going to happen, and it shouldn't.
Very good post! You said it all, the church has always welcomed everyone, but if you want to take communion, you need to free yourself of the sin. That is the sin as the church sees it, not as you see it.
Good for you doing what you need to, and following the rules.
God bless you for following God and not the world. You are handling a very difficult situation in a very mature, Christian way. But if you don't mind me asking, are you remarried? If you aren't, then you are allowed to go to Penance and Communion. It is only a problem if you are remarried without an annulment. Talk to your priest - it sounds like you are unnecessarily refraining from the sacraments. Good luck!
I have been divorced 32 years, never re-married and have been celibate quite a few years.
The Church will let you participate in the Eucharist if you never re-married and are in the state of grace. Especially if you did not institute teh divorce.
snip...go somewhere else, or up your standards. Don't expect the Church to lower her standards to accommodate. It isn't going to happen, and it shouldn't
But 'lowering standards' is exactly what same-sex types are calling on us to do. When they carp and cry about our hateful unfairness, what they're really saying is this: "If you only understood (that we can't live UP to your standards) our pain,you'd be sensitive and accepting (make exceptions for us by lowering your standards).
God bless you.