"There frequently lies a corruption of the idea and the experience of freedom, conceived not as a capacity for realizing the truth of God's plan for marriage and the family"
Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1650 Today there are numerous Catholics in many countries who have recourse to civil divorce and contract new civil unions. In fidelity to the words of Jesus Christ - "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery" the Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognized as valid, if the first marriage was. If the divorced are remarried civilly, they find themselves in a situation that objectively contravenes God's law. Consequently, they cannot receive Eucharistic communion as long as this situation persists. For the same reason, they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities. Reconciliation through the sacrament of Penance can be granted only to those who have repented for having violated the sign of the covenant and of fidelity to Christ, and who are committed to living in complete continence.
1 comment:
I was thinking about the practice of encouraging Catholics who are married/divorced to receive a spiritual communion. I know it seems impossible. But the fact is some Catholics living in these irregular situations may only be committing a venial sin for they may not know what they are doing is a Serious Sin. Or they may not be doing it of their own free will (slavery). So encouraging such people to receive spiritual communion would be to invite them to the highest form of prayer -- desire for Christ. It could lead to conversion. But for those who fully understand what they are doing and persist in objective sin in rebellion against God, it would be hard to imagine them receiving spiritual communion. But it's not our job to discern who is who is this matter. That's up to God.
However, the state of confusion today is so great. Are there any who truly understand what they are doing wrong? I have friends who inform married/divorced Catholics about what is Catholic marriage, and why is it objectively wrong to receive communion outside a true Catholic marriage. They do such a good job of it that people are no longer angry at the Church after hearing them explain. They understand why they can't receive communion, and they are able to make a free choice. But they enter the class in ignorance and confusion. They leave with understanding. I guess this is why the Church is trying to be so soft on Catholics in irregular situations. Vapid moral confusion! God bless you. Susan Fox www.christsfaithfulwitness.com
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