Cardinal opposes Vatican over church teaching on marriage

Catholic Conclave ^ | November 8, 2013 | Christopher Gillibrand

[ebb tide]

Dealing with divorced and remarried: Cardinal Marx lays into the Vatican

Cardinal Marx : " We are going to see that the issue is completely discussed"

Should the Catholic Church allow divorced and remarried to be re-admitted to communion? No, says Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican. The Munich Cardinal Marx does not want to accept this.

Freising - The Bavarian bishops want a broad debate on the way that divorced and remarried people are treated by the Catholic Church. They distance themselves thereby from the Prefect of the Vatican congregation, the former Bishop of Regensburg Gerhard Ludwig Müller .

The discussions on this topic should not be narrowed solely to the teaching of the Church, said Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich at the end of the autumn meeting of the Bavarian bishops in Freising, "The Prefect of the Congregation cannot end the discussion . "

People who get divorced after a church wedding and marry again are, up to the present time, not equal members of the Catholic Church. They are excluded from church offices, they may not receive the Sacraments. Such is the teaching, even if some priests already behave differently.

"Make the voices of the grassroots audible "

Archbishop Müller still does not want to admit to communion divorced Catholics who have remarried, as before, whereas Marx says, "We are going to see that the issue is completely discussed". The response to a questionnaire sent by Pope St. Francis on the situation of marriage and the family was "an ambitious task." The general aim was to make the voices of the grassroots audible " .

The background of Marx's statements is a global opinion survey by the Vatican. State of the Church wants to find out the views of Catholic communities on sensitive issues, such as dealing with divorce and homosexuality. The document is planned by Pope Francis Special Synod of Bishops on the Family prepare in October 2014.

The Archbishop of Freiburg and Head of the German Bishops' Conference, Robert Zollitsch had repeatedly shown himself open to a new path. "They belong to the Church," he said at the end of the Autumn Plenary Assembly of the Bishops' Conference on remarried Catholics. The general aim was " to examine the entire range of ecclesiastical solutions."

The Pastoral Office of the Archdiocese of Freiburg issued in October “Recommendations for the Pastoral Care to support people who are separated, divorced and after civil remarriage”. To support people who are separated, divorced and after civil remarriage. If the marriage should have failed, it is important, "to be close to those and to support them who (deliberately) have not entered into any new partnership," it states in the text. Thus remarried have the way opened to them which was previously barred to them.

Cathcon- the whole relevant passage In particular, it is necessary to respect and to support in a pastoral manner the spiritual decision to participate in varied ways in the life of the Church and consciously to refrain from receiving the sacraments.

As a result of a responsibly-taken conscientious decision, in the specific situation, the possibility can be given to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, of reconciliation and anointing of the sick, inasmuch as the required specific disposition of faith is existent. The parish and consequently the Church as a whole are lived as a community in which reconciliation with past life history is possible and put specifically into practice. This is experienced as positive and strengthening not only by those affected, but also helps the whole community, to experience the merciful action of Jesus Christ at first-hand.

Marx calls for restraint in the case Tebartz van Elst

The Munich Cardinal also spoke about the affair of the Limburg Bishop Franz -Peter Tebartz van Elst - and called for restraint. "I would hope that some now will just keep their mouth shut," Marx said . He left open whether he was referring to the Chairman of the Regional Committee of Catholics in Bavaria. Albert Schmid recently defended Tebartz van Elst and thus incurred the displeasure of lay organizations.

Marx argued for waiting for the resolution of allegations. Marx regretted the increased numbers leaving the church in connection with the affair. The Bishop of Limburg has come under criticism because of his leadership style and the dramatic increase in costs for the new bishop's residence. Currently Bishop Tebartz van Elst is taking a break in the Lower Bavarian Benedictine monastery of Metten.

[Sacajaweau]

Of course they should be allowed to receive communion.

[yarddog]

Sometimes one party to a divorce is completely innocent. The Bible also allows divorce in cases of adultry.

[Petrosius]

“Until death do us part” is a fact, not just an ideal. If someone attempts what would be an invalid remarriage after divorce they are committing adultery. This grave sin is what rightfully keeps them from receiving Holy Communion. The truly pastoral response would be to teach the truth about the lie which is divorce and give those burdened by it the support to live faithfully to the commandments of God.

[Petrosius]

Sometimes one party to a divorce is completely innocent.

This is true but that does not change the reality that the marriage still exists.

The Bible also allows divorce in cases of adultry.

A common Protestant error. Porneia mentioned in Matthew means an illicit sexual union, not adultery.

[narses]

In the Religion forum, on a thread titled Cardinal opposes Vatican over church teaching on marriage, yarddog wrote:

Sometimes one party to a divorce is completely innocent. The Bible also allows divorce in cases of (sic) adultry.

http://catholicdefense.blogspot.com/2009/05/does-bible-permit-divorce-in-case-of.html

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/if-jesus-made-an-exception-for-divorce-in-cases-of-adultery-why-doesnt-the-church

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=103

[xzins]

I’m torn on this one because Jesus clearly says that some are caused to commit adultery because the infidelity of a spouse leads to divorce.

If the cause is another person, then there should be understanding.

On the other hand, he said/she saids are almost always impossible to sort out. And annulments sometimes seem so much like rationalizing something away.

Also, a strict standard is clear, understandable, and an incentive to live a certain way.

[Cicero]

Yes, it’s always difficult for outsiders to weigh the blame when two people divorce.

But we’re talking about divorce and re-marriage. Even if someone is divorced against their will, and is not to blame for the divorce, they are still committing adultery if they decide to remarry. That remarriage is their decision, freely made.

Very difficult and unfortunate. But life isn’t always fair. Just because life is tough doesn’t give anyone a right to commit adultery.

[MacMattico]

In practice, I've been to many Catholic churches and never asked if I were divorced before taking Communion. Or even if I were a Catholic for that matter. Obviously in my home church they know I am not divorced and am Catholic. But I really think on the practical, weekly Mass level, you are taken at your word when you go up for Communion. God knows what's in your heart! And divorce is such a tough thing in a family, everybody hurts. Especially if you go through spiritual counseling you should still be allowed Communion. We are all sinners!

[onedoug]

Depends on who you are. This was and is no problem for the Kennedys who otherwise play at piousness. Or Biden, or Pelosi. If you’ve got the cash or the station, they’ve got Communion you.

[ebb tide]

“And divorce is such a tough thing in a family, everybody hurts.”

And abortion is such a tough thing in a family, everybody hurts, especially the baby that was murdered. Does that mean the parents are entitled to Holy Communion?

Adultery and murder (abortion) are both mortal sins. And if one dies in a state of mortal sin what happens?

[MacMattico]

Who gets murdered in a divorce? I grew up in the 80’s where many of my friends grew up in broken homes and it was tough, but it was much worse when they lived in a home with no happiness but the parent stuck around, especially when the kids knew that parent was having an affair, was an alcoholic or abusive.

My own cousins had an abusive father and he was perfectly happy to live out his life married but cheating on my Aunt, out drinking every night and gone every weekend spending all of their money. My aunt finally got a divorce and went into counseling with our Priest. She met a wonderful man, for her and her children, and they celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary this past summer. Do not compare that with Abortion!

[Petrosius]

Especially if you go through spiritual counseling you should still be allowed Communion.

… and resolve to sin no more, i.e. refrain from adulterous affairs.

To pretend that a valid marriage no longer exists so that the parties can "get on with their lives" is a false charity. Imposed celibacy is indeed a hardship but is this not one of those times when we need to listen to our Lord and "take up our cross and follow him"? As Christians we need to have the faith to live the gospel.

[Petrosius]

There are times that separation and a civil divorce is justified but this does not invalidate the existing marriage. As Christians do we take the words of our Lord seriously or are we just play acting?

[MacMattico]

The fact that we can hope and pray that a serial killer “found Jesus” on his death bed and then can therefore be saved but we want to condemn the divorced and remarried, even if divorced through no fault of their own, when they seek forgiveness and spiritual guidance makes no sense in any Christian denomination.

[MacMattico]

So are we disagreeing specifically about annulments now?

[Petrosius]

An annulment is a declaration that a marriage never truly existed, not the dissolution of a valid marriage. Those annulled and remarried are free to receive Communion.

[Petrosius]

Those divorced and remarried have always been able to approach the Church and seek forgiveness but the sin is the adultery while still validly married. The alleged divorce is a falsehood; the original marriage (assuming no annulment) still endures. Are you proposing that we just pretend that it does not exist? Are you suggesting that we should have more compassion than our Lord Jesus Christ who said: “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery”?

[MacMattico]

I know what an annulment is. Annulments aren't always possible, and I must say (even as a Catholic) are sometimes given out to easily. An Annulment is supposed to be given when the marriage is “found lacking in the essential characteristics of a Christian Sacramental Union from the time of consent.” In my example, my Uncle was a good guy for the first five years of his marriage to my Aunt, and then he turned into a monster. It was the 1960’s and she wasn't offered an annulment, but after divorced, as I have said, received counseling and forgiveness.

[MacMattico]

I am Catholic. Annulments are fine with me if done for the right reasons and properly. Now you’re quoting Jesus Christ on divorce. Please quote Jesus Christ on Annulments. I am completely at ease with the Annulment as a Catholic teaching, but I don’t believe their is no way back to God because you are divorced. I don’t believe God treats divorce the same as Abortion or Murder. Call me a heretic. I am not of the belief that many good people I know are condemned to hell over a divorce.