Posted on 01/03/2014 7:12:23 PM PST by marshmallow
The leader of the German bishops' conference has defended a plan by the prelates to offer Communion to divorced Catholics, saying he feels "strengthened" by Pope Francis on the matter despite opposition from the Vatican's highest doctrinal official.
Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, chairman of the German Episcopal Conference, says that in reflecting on the opposition to the plan from Archbishop Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he remembers that "a prefect is not the pope."
"As President of the Bishops' Conference I have, in recent years, after our spring and autumn meeting, traveled to Rome to explain our position," Zollitsch said in a Dec. 29 interview with the German newspaper Die Welt that has been partially translated by Dutch blogger Mark de Vries.
"If a prefect of one the various congregations would then oppose this position, I would think to go slowly," he continued. "A prefect is not the pope. I look for dialogue, and for me that is the way of collegiality and the dialogue in the church."
Zollitsch, who has led the German bishops since 2008, is referring to a plan by the prelates to allow remarried Catholics to make a "responsible decision in conscience" to receive sacraments after consulting their priest.
That plan, first fully disclosed by the Germans in November, was rebuked by Müller in October in a 4,600-word article in the Vatican's semi-official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.
Defending current practice that divorced Catholics must seek an official annulment from the church before remarrying, Müller said the "entire sacramental economy" could not be swept aside by an "appeal to mercy" on the matter.
(Excerpt) Read more at ucanews.com ...
A lot of reprobates have been “strengthened” of late by moron Framcis’ words.
Since Nancy Pelosi continues to get communion, and the new homosexual mayor of Atlantic City attended services in a Catholic Church with his homo partner as part of his inauguration....
Should we just say...who are we to judge?
If I’m not mistaken, a divorced Catholic can receive the eucharist as long as they are in a state of grace. No?
Ah ... nevermind. I see they are talking about divorfed and remarried. Strike my previous post.
Your move +++Francis.
There is no need to call names. Whether you agree or disagree with him, he is an educated man, and not a moron.
Additionally, the German bishops appear to be in the wrong, and the Prefect for CDF is right in telling them so. Abp. Mueller is also the one trusted to reinforce the perpetual teaching of the Church, as found in the Gospel, (Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18).
Rome tends to move very slowly, so it will interesting to watch how this is handled.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl is in favor of giving Communion to divorced-and-illicitly-remarried couples.
He has announced in public that he will not deny Communion to anyone who has not been formally excommunicated.
Since Nancy Pelosi and other pro-abortion Catholics have not been formally excommunicated, Wuerl believes they should be given Communion.
So Wuerl is on record in favor of giving Communion to the divorced-and-illicitly-remarried.
Tell that to the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.
Francis is changing nothing.
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