Posted on 04/08/2011 4:36:13 AM PDT by surroundedbyblue
The Catholic archbishop of Santa Fe has issued a pastoral letter, read in all parishes of the archdiocese on April 3, that explains the Catholic Church’s position on reception of the sacraments to those living in cohabitation.
“We are all painfully aware that there are many Catholics today who are living in cohabitation,” the pastoral letter by Archbishop Michael Sheehan begins. “The Church must make it clear to the faithful that these unions are not in accord with the Gospel, and to help Catholics who find themselves in these situations to do whatever they must do to make their lives pleasing to God.”
The Gospel teaches that, when it comes to sexual union, “there are only two lifestyles acceptable to Jesus Christ for His disciples: a single life of chastity, or the union of man and woman in the Sacrament of Matrimony,” the archbishop states. “There is no ‘third way’ possible for a Christian. The Bible and the Church teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman and opposes same sex unions.”
In the short and concise pastoral letter, Archbishop Sheehan explains the objection of the Church to the “three groups of people who are living contrary to the Gospel teaching on marriage” receiving Communion.
(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...
What is it now - Only us good boys and girls get it
and who judges the consciences of those approaching the table of the Lord.?
um, you may want to check your Catechism.
No one is judging the state of souls. That is for God alone. But when one is currently commiting a mortal sin, they should not receive Communion. Yes, it does heal, but it’s a sacrilege to receive Communion outside the state of grace. One cannot be in a state of mortal sin.
What part of this don’t you understand? Are you one of the CINOs that changes rules to suit yourself.
I dare say the two encyclicals I mentioned are note worthy and represent the Popes’ recognition of the secularization of the laity.
But has the use of contraception and abortion become less or greater amongst Catholics since those encyclicals were issued? And has the attitude of the laity become more permissive or strict in those two areas?
To issue a pastoral letter is one thing, to get anyone to follow it is quite another. I don't think any bishop or priest is willing to go to war with the membership, especially after they've been beat up by the sex abuse scandal.
The attitude of Catholics toward Manning seems to be that
“Yes, it is wrong, a sin, but......”.
The situation is complicated somewhat with a priest, because priests are often obligated to say Mass (e.g., a parish priest has to offer Mass on Sundays for his people, or find a substitute to do it) and the celebrating priest is required to receive communion.
I can literally named hundreds of priests who were in a conscious state of mortal sin yet continued to say Mass.
The most recent hypocrite is Father Michael Manning was just recently outed publicly for having a decades long sexual affair with his cousin, ewww. Yet, he still had the gall to have a TV ministry and counseled people on marriage.
Then please do so with documentation.
My marriage is fine. I have been married for 48 years now.
I find that the Church allowing annulments for people like Ted Kennedy who was married for 25 years and then annulled is repugnant. You have the money you get the annulment. You call that right? Not me.
The Church has many problems and people like myself are easily condemned by the pious and holier than thou who obey all the rules. How easy it is to sit in judgement.But of course that itself is against the rules.
In the meantime selfish Catholics will continue to practice birth control, and their own beliefs of divorce and leave the Church or practice their religion the way they see fit while the Church continues it;s hypocrisy of giving Copmmunion to pro-abortion catholics and burying Kennedy’s with a Cardinal present.
It is foolish to argue religion and I made the foolish mistake of expressing my mind to a person on the internet who is certain to be proclaimed “Blessed” since that person is so much holier than myself. I hope to attend the beatification of those who have told me how wrong I am .
You are confusing Donatism with receiving communion in a state of mortal sin. The sacraments are not invalidated because the priest is a sinner.
Let’s review the Bishops words.
“These people are objectively living in a state of mortal sin and may not receive Holy Communion. They are in great spiritual danger. At the best — and this is, sadly, often the case — they are ignorant of God’s plan for man and woman. At the worst, they are contemptuous of God’s commandments and His sacraments,” Sheehan said in the letter.
If a priest is doing the same thing by screwing his cousin for decades, surely his is living in Mortal Sin as well.
What does the Church say about priest saying Mass who are in Mortal Sin?
“To celebrate Mass or receive Communion while in a state of mortal sin would be to commit a sacrilege.”
Canon 916 of the Code of Canon Law states: “A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible (see also Canon 1335).”
My apologies I thought your concern was that the effectiveness of the sacraments would be compromised by the priest’s personal sin. I realize that was not your concern and you agree with what you wrote. I would not want to see innocent people deprived of the sacrament and would pray a Bishop would be quick to make provisions for the members of a parish whose priest could not perform his ministry.
No problem.
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