Posted on 10/22/2013 7:38:45 AM PDT by BlatherNaut
At present, the many thousands of divorced Roman Catholics who remarry cannot receive the sacrament that is central to the practice of the faith.
However, Pope Francis has convened an "extraordinary synod" in October next year on the subject of the family, and on his flight back from World Youth Day in Brazil the Pope told journalists that it would explore a "somewhat deeper pastoral care of marriage", which would include the question of allowing Catholics who were divorced and remarried to receive Communion.
(Excerpt) Read more at cathnews.com ...
One thing to keep in mind is the warning from Archbishop Chaput at WYD
” We make a very serious mistake if we rely on media like the New York Times, Newsweek, CNN, or MSNBC for reliable news about religion. These news media simply don’t provide trustworthy information about religious faith—and sometimes they can’t provide it, either because of limited resources or because of their own editorial prejudices. These are secular operations focused on making a profit. They have very little sympathy for the Catholic faith, and quite a lot of aggressive skepticism toward any religious community that claims to preach and teach God’s truth.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2766094/posts
He goes on to say that the sources you should trust are the Catholic media.
However, one thing we are finding in the pontificate of Francis is that the agendas of many of these Catholic sources is being revealed, as well.
Note this article that recently came out:
” Even the upper echelons of the Vatican hierarchy have been aware for a while now that, since Francis rose to the papal throne, his river of words has been reaching people through all sorts of channels and without any intermediaries. So the Pope’s direct way of addressing his audience is ensuring that the media do not go into a spinning frenzy regarding the figure and actions of the Bishop of Rome.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3081801/posts
If I didn’t have a record of what he really said, even many of the Catholic sites would “interpret” (read: spin) his words.
Just to play devil's advocate here - I wonder how that comprehension could be objectively verified to a satisfactory degree, since "comprehension" is so subjective (and apparently subject to historical revision in some cases in order to obtain an annulment). Maybe it's unfair to assign too much blame to the clergy, pre cana, etc.
Out of curiosity, I just looked up the criteria used to declare nullity, and was surprised to discover that if those criteria were applied to my own marriage, it could also be objectively declared null (which strikes me as totally absurd, because even though I didn't have an iota of comprehension in regard to Church teaching regarding marriage, I still knew that entering into marriage is considered a permanent commitment in societal terms and that marriage vows are a promise to be kept).
Many in the church believe that communion should be witheld from those who perform or actively support abortion. Is that between them and God as well?
If the Church does move down this road then it will only be a matter of time before it recognizes civil divorce as well. Then marriage will be for Catholics what it has become for other faiths. A union between one man and one woman...for however long is convenient to them both.
He has to show remorse for the sin he has committed. How can he do that and continue to live his sinful life?
“The only question is whether or not remarried couples are living in sin. We have mechanisms in place already to determine the answer and heal the wounded”.
Not the ones that got an annulment through the Church. This is not about to change. Been that way for a long, long time. An annulment meant the marriage basically never happened. And let me tell you, the Church does not automatically grant them. It took my wife 3 years from the time she started for the Church to approve it. She had to have all kinds of documentation. In the end she proved that her “catholic” husband was not really catholic. He went to Mass when they were going together. Once married he refused to go in the front door of the Church. Her and a few others had to attest to his abandoning the church. The annulment was finally approved and we got married in the Catholic Church a few months later. And before anyone asks, we did not live together before we were married.
“I have never believed that people should stay in an unhappy marriage just to stay in the Church”.
They don’t have to be unhappily married, just don’t live together. That is yours and your spouse’s business. Go to communion and confession all you want and it’s perfectly fine. You didn’t get a divorce. The ones that are shacking up and still going to communion will have to answer to God in the end and he does not like someone breaking his Commandments.
As to the point you’re making here, there is no prohibition of Communion for the divorced in the Church now, anyone who says differently (even anyone on FR) is wrong. There’s not even a prohibition of divorce. You can get divorced of you are Catholic.
The preceding are common misconceptions. That is, many believe that divorced Catholics are: 1. Living in sin just by being divorced and 2. Since they are in sin, they shouldn’t receive Communion.
These are simply wrong.
What Catholics are NOT allowed to do is get divorced and remarry! I’ll leave it to others to explain that more fully, but I thought I’d set you straight on the matter. The Church isn’t forcing wives to stay with abusive husbands. Not at all.
As for the OP, this is where the controversey occurs or might, if it is indeed true. Because again, you aren’t allowed to remarry if you divorce yourself from your spouse. That’s where the sin starts.
I am glad you cited CCC 2386 because it does suggest the way this is seen by the SPXX and Sedevacantist on this site is that the Catholic Church is changing its teaching on marriage. Not true, and of course there are the usual FR Protestant Brigades who will chime in the same way.
The Catholic CHurch does not forbid Eastern Orthodox Christians from taking Holy Communion in the Catholic CHurch. The views that CCC 2386 suggest and what Pope Francis is talking about sounds consistent with what the Eastern ORthodox Church allows so are we talking about a change in moral theology, no, are we talking about a change in Church canons [rules standards] with respect to who can take Holy Communion, yes, but it is not a change in Doctrine. Unfortunately, there are too many individuals who think they are top notch theologians who will not understand what CCC 2386 is clearly stating and try to spin any change in church policy towards reception of Holy Communion to fit there own preconceived agendas.
I would argue that this isn't necessarily a good thing if he is telling people to "make a mess" and other such peculiar remarks, seeing Pelagianism where it doesn't exist, mischaracterizing (perhaps inadvertently) certain types of prayer, etc. Also what is important to note is that the majority of consumers of Pope Francis commentary do absorb mainly media-selected soundbites, which is why a considered, disciplined approach to messaging is prudent. Whether or not the picture of him that is forming is an accurate one (that of a liberal reformer in the footsteps of Bernadin or Martini, etc.) will become clearer over time. Unfortunately there can be no doubt that many find his commentary (even in context) confusing, disturbing and even in some cases seemingly contradictory to Church teaching.
If I didn’t have a record of what he really said, even many of the Catholic sites would “interpret” (read: spin) his words.
Unfortunately the vast majority of people only get the spin (if that's what it is).
Isn’t going to happen.
You can tell if you are reading an uninformed reporter’s scribbling if he refers to “the Catholic Church’s ban on...” whatever.
There is no “ban” on contraception, no “ban” on abortion, no “ban” on bigamy (which is what this article is about). Just as there is no “ban” on murder, no “ban” on stealing, and no “ban” on lying.
Perhaps these secular reporters would get the point if one were to ask: “When is modern society going to lift its ban on racism. How about lifting the ban on sexism? Why doesn’t society lift the ban on molesting children?”
Isn’t going to happen.
You can tell if you are reading an uninformed reporter’s scribbling if he refers to “the Catholic Church’s ban on...” whatever.
There is no “ban” on contraception, no “ban” on abortion, no “ban” on bigamy (which is what this article is about). Just as there is no “ban” on murder, no “ban” on stealing, and no “ban” on lying.
Perhaps these secular reporters would get the point if one were to ask: “When is modern society going to lift its ban on racism. How about lifting the ban on sexism? Why doesn’t society lift the ban on molesting children?”
“If a person married again after divorce and goes to confession and states he is living in what the Church calls an adulterous relationship”.
You have to confess this sin to the Father and be sincere in your act of contrition and tell the Father that you WISH TO SIN NO MORE.
Going right back to the same sin is playing a game with God
and you are only fooling yourself.
The Church believes it has a responsibility to defend the indissolubility of marriage.
In cases where a marriage does break down, and there is reason for doubt about the quality of the consent that established the marriage, there is the process of annulment.
When people do not go through the process of annulment, and remarry after a divorce, defending the indissolubility of marriage means presuming the validity of the first marriage. This is why such people are not permitted to receive Communion.
If a Pope is ‘infallible’ then how come this one is going against all the other ones?
Hope you're right. Only time will tell.
Agreed. Faith and prayer in the meantime.
“If a person married again after divorce and goes to confession and states he is living in what the Church calls an adulterous relationship”.
You have to confess this sin to the Father and be sincere in your act of contrition and tell the Father that you WISH TO SIN NO MORE.
Going right back to the same sin is playing a game with God
and you are only fooling yourself.
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/does-papal-infallibility-mean-the-pope-is-perfect-or-inerrant
Yes. We do have our opinions.
The Latin Mass, allowed by popes subsequent to Pius XII, has been changed in key parts.
Read the 1962 missal and compare that to Father Lasance’s latest.
So the Catholic Church decides who is and who is not worthy of communion between the individual and God. ok then.
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