Cardinal Kasper’s New Approach to the Remarried has Shaky Historical Foundations

The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 4/2/14 | Dr John Rist

[marshmallow]

The cardinal’s case is based on a doubtful interpretation of a tiny number of texts

On February 20 last, Cardinal Walter Kasper gave an address, “The Gospel of the Family”, to the extraordinary consistory on the family called by the Holy Father, much of it concerned with outlining current difficulties – massive mobility, immigration, costs of childrearing, aging populations, individualism, alienation of urban life, civil divorce, etc – faced by Catholics entering the married state.

A married Catholic such as myself might suppose that these prevailing circumstances suggest, rather than a relaxation of the rules debarring from Communion the divorced and “re-married” that promulgating from Rome requirements for far more serious marriage-instruction to be given to couples, by priests (or others) cognisant of these difficulties of marriage in contemporary society, would be a first obvious step towards solving, or at least diminishing the problem and easing the strain on marriage tribunals. Yet the cardinal proposes that the rule about Communion be liberalised for two groups of divorced and remarried Catholics: those who genuinely believe (or may even know) that they originally entered on a Church wedding with no firm intention, or inadequate understanding, as to the rules about validity; secondly, those who have contracted a civil second marriage because their Catholic marriage has failed “irretrievably” – with emphasis on a “probably very small group” of these last as especially worthy of relaxation of the rules.

However, it is not my intent to trespass upon the cardinal’s preserve in matter of teaching about marriage, but rather to handle that which is within my competency: the teaching of the Fathers of the Church. For while Cardinal Kasper admits that we cannot simply go back to ancient teachings, he does claim – at the same time suggesting an imprecise parallel with developing doctrines of......

[Mrs. Don-o]

Dang --- academic fraud ON TOP OF everything else.

I hope Cardinal K will get taken down definitively about his unbiblical and untraditional teachings.

[JoeFromSidney]

The fish rots from the head. The floor of Hell is paved with the skulls of bishops. And Hell will be populated by people in invalid marriages who receive Communion invalidly.

[Albion Wilde]

these prevailing circumstances suggest, rather than a relaxation of the rules debarring from Communion... that promulgating... requirements for far more serious marriage-instruction... would be a first obvious step towards ...diminishing the problem and easing the strain on marriage tribunals.

Hear, hear. I did specific grad-level research on marriage (I'm not Catholic) and came to the same conclusion: hours of classroom preparation before marriage, with the possible outcome of ending some unpromising engagements, is better than years of agony after marriage, or divorce.

Too many parents and pastors fall in love along with the couple along the lines of romance, and get swept up in the young couples' wishful thinking and expensive wedding planning instead of being true witnesses for the solemn commitments of marriage. While I try to be tactful, I am a sometimes unpopular elder in my family because I do question all the young relatives about their romantic choices, especially if the prospective partner is unchurched. They say it's none of my business, even though I and all the other adults took the congregational oath at their baptisms and confirmations to uphold them in the faith.

[Mrs. Don-o]

We're in agreement on that. Strong agreement.

What I was criticizing was Card. K's misuse of the Ante-Nicene documents, the "Shaky historic foundations" referenced in the headline.

[redgolum]

We had eight weeks of pre Cana counseling, with a weekend retreat.

We got married in my bride's home church, and did the pre marriage stuff in the Lincoln, NE diocese.

The priest was great. He had no worries about us, but told me that I would find out why they did the long courses when I got to the retreat. He was right. There was a number of couples who had no idea of what marriage was, or how hard it was. When you have workshops labeled “How to talk to your future spouse about your future children” and “How to pray with your spouse”, there is a reason for it.

[Biggirl]

Would it be better for the anullment process be made a much less difficult process?

[xone]

ph

[terycarl]

Would it be better for the anullment process be made a much less difficult process

can't do that...an annulment means that a valid marriage did not take place originally. Now, it either did or it didn't, you just can't make it easier to try to justify the separation.