Monday, October 29, 2012
349. What is the attitude of the Church toward those people who are divorced and then remarried?
(Comp
349) The Church, since she is faithful to her Lord, cannot recognize the
union of people who are civilly divorced and remarried. “Whoever divorces his
wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her
husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mark 10:11-12). The Church
manifests an attentive solicitude toward such people and encourages them to a
life of faith, prayer, works of charity and the Christian education of their
children. However, they cannot receive sacramental absolution, take Holy
Communion, or exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities as long as their
situation, which objectively contravenes God's law, persists.
“In brief”
(CCC 2385) Divorce is immoral also because it introduces
disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to
the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents
and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes
it truly a plague on society.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 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"
(Mk 10:11-12) - 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.
Reflection
(CCC 1651) Toward Christians who live in this situation, and
who often keep the faith and desire to bring up their children in a Christian
manner, priests and the whole community must manifest an attentive solicitude,
so that they do not consider themselves separated from the Church, in whose
life they can and must participate as baptized persons: They should be
encouraged to listen to the Word of God, to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass,
to persevere in prayer, to contribute to works of charity and to community
efforts for justice, to bring up their children in the Christian faith, to
cultivate the spirit and practice of penance and thus implore, day by day,
God's grace (FC 84).
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