Posted on 11/25/2013 6:53:25 PM PST by marshmallow
A German bishop has said that the country’s episcopal conference will move forward with plans to allow Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, despite clear disapproval from the Vatican.
Bishop Gebhard Fürst of Stuttgart told a lay group, the Central Committee of German Catholics, that the German bishops have already drafted new guidelines for the reception of Communion by divorced/remarried Catholics, and hope to vote their approval to those new rules in March 2014. Bishop Fürst said that the German hierarchy is responding to demands from the faithful. “Expectations are great, and impatience and anger are greater still,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...
As a Catholic who has been married to the same woman for 45 years, I agree with this...
>> Bishop Fürst said that the German hierarchy is responding to demands from the faithful.
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” — St. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, 1:10
I disagree with the Germans. I guess Papa Fran is going to have to have some conversations with them.
This is like Humanae Vitae.’It doesn’t matter what the “faithful” think. Not all are teachers, and those who aren’t must learn from those who are.
In the end we could only counsel them to "live as Catholic as they could," be active with the parish, frequently seek spiritual Communion with Our Lord, be patient, trust God, wait. Very difficult.
However, I can't see any alternative. I'm not sure the Church has the authority to OK bigamy. And I'd say this, I think, even if it were myself involved in this situation.
“However, I can’t see any alternative. I’m not sure the Church has the authority to OK bigamy. And I’d say this, I think, even if it were myself involved in this situation.”
I think in the end Mrs. Don-o, The only one who can tell tell you that you are in a state of Grace is yourself...
I would argue that if indeed God was part of the marital union that fell apart, it wouldn’t have would it? That’s my thinking anyway.
Regardless of the possible grounds for an annulment, many people do not peruse one because it has the potential to hurt the X and the kids... People who are concerned about others are exactly the ones who deserve to receive the sacraments.
” (and in one case, could not be) “
I’m curious as to why it “could not”...
Busted-up marriages are necessarily fraught with emotion and huge personal investment. I think it is false to say that each person can best judge their own case. Choosing yourself as judge, is choosing a biased judge. If you had any real honesty, you would recuse yourself from the bench.
IN any case, God is indeed the ultimate judge, and He will judge rightly. Here below, we live with patience.
Why is this the only “sin” that casts one out forever?
I could murder someone and be forgiven and still receive communion, but if I divorce I instantly become a second class Catholic.
While I understand the reasoning, I don’t agreed with implementation.
Yes, I am affected by this. I go to Communion anyway. This is between God and me.
To enter into the sacrament of matrimony under Catholic Law, one has be baptized Christian. If this is the case for both parties, than there is a valid marriage which cannot be dissolved.
The pre-requisites for a couple to actually validly confer the sacrament on each other is a bit hefty. They have to have been in a state of sound judgment and knowledge of what they are intending when celebrating the rite. They must be entering into marriage in honesty. The rite also has to be presided by a deacon or Priest. It has to be witnessed by another party. They may not be coerced into marriage in any way as well.
However, if a couple fulfilled these requirements than there is an unbreakable bond that is established, it is the Sacramental bond.
This is why Annulment cases can be very important and difficult. Despite the hefty requirements, the laws presumption is that a sacrament has happened. So you have to prove in one way why it didn’t, which can get into psychological and or competency issues.
It has the potential to be very messy, and takes a long time.
Sounds like this bishop is bucking for being “promoted” to bishop in the American Episcopal church.
With all due respect, why would you want to influence others to sin by your bad counsel?
One cannot justify sinning by one's good intentions for that path leads to Hell.
I, as a miserable sinner, could justify any sinful activity of mine and convince myself I deserve to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, but I would be lying and would end up condemning myself as St. Paul teaches.
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Do you believe Jesus when he said “Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” ?
Do you pray the Creed at every Sunday Mass?
“The Tribunal needs to be able to get both sides of the story, or a darn convincing reason why they can’t. In this case, the wife declined to give the Tribunal any means to contact her ex.”
Interesting...
My sister in law’s x-husband, after raising 5 kids obtained an annulment. She was informed by letter after the fact and when she complained to the parish priest was told it was out of his hands and he could do nothing. I know this to be a fact.
This was 5 years ago...
“To enter into the sacrament of matrimony under Catholic Law, one has be baptized Christian. If this is the case for both parties, than there is a valid marriage which cannot be dissolved.”
Actually you are incorrect in this. The church recognizes the marriage even if one party has not been baptized and even if the marriage was not in the church.
“Actually you are incorrect in this. The church recognizes the marriage even if one party has not been baptized and even if the marriage was not in the church.”
This is incorrect, unless a dispensation was given beforehand from the relevant Catholic ordinary. In this case the Marriage is real but it is non-sacramental.
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