[Catholic Caucus] Three Bishops Issue Profession of Truth About Sacramental Marriage

National Catholic Register ^ | January 2, 2017 | Edward Pentin

[ebb tide]

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Update, Jan 2, 11.40pm:

According to the Italian Catholic website Corrispondenza Romana, the former apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, has added his name to the Kazakh bishops’ profession of truth about sacramental marriage. So, too, has Italian emeritus Archbishop Luigi Negri of Ferrara-Comacchio.

Archbishop Vigano served as nuncio in Washington D.C. from 2011 until 2016. Benedict XVI appointed him to the position after two years as secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State where he used his reputable administrative skills to uncover corrupt financial practices — something that caused other Vatican officials to elbow him out. Ordained a priest on March 24, 1968, he was appointed nuncio to Nigeria in 1992.

Archbishop Negri led the archdiocese of Ferrara-Comacchio from Dec. 2012 until June 2017. Ordained a priest on 28 June 1972,  he is known as a vigorous pastor, theologian and philosopher.

Both archbishops have taken part in Italy’s March for Life in Rome, and last October they participated in an international conference on “Humanae Vitae 50 Years Later: Its Meaning Yesterday and Today,” held at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and organized by the pro-life group, Voice of the Family. 

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[Mrs. Don-o]

I don't understand Cocopalmiero's position here.

He says there are “divorced and remarried (or cohabiting) persons who have the intention to change their condition but cannot."

'Cannot'?

'Cannot' cease sexual relations with this person they are living with outside of the bonds of Holy Matrimony?

Are we speaking of people her who suffer from global cognitive deficit (mental retardation)? Breaks from reality (schizophrenic/psychotic)?

Or are we speaking of people who are being held by force, against their will, in some form of involuntary servitude or bondage (an abducted person living in sexual slavery)?

Those would be persons subjectively incapable of mortal sin because of severe internal disability or external coercion.

But if we're talking about a person with normal cognitive processes and a normal degree of control of their own conduct, I'm not quite sure how it would be literally impossible for them to cease committing adultery.