Rhode Island bishop: 'status quo is unacceptable' on divorce and remarriage
September 16, 2014
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Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, has said that some change is needed in the Church’s approach to Communion for divorced and remarried couples, because “the status quo is unacceptable.”
While conceding that Church doctrine on marriage cannot be changed, Bishop Tobin suggests a streamlining of annulment procedures. He raises a question about whether “we can rely more on the conscientious personal judgment of spouses about the history of their marriage…and their worthiness to receive Holy Communion?”
Although he concludes that he does not know what the right answer to the problem is, Bishop Tobin argues that “we’ve got to do something” to address the pastoral needs of Catholics who are divorced and remarried.
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Posted by: -
Sep. 17, 2014 6:47 PM ET USA
"The status quo is unacceptable?" Not sure why the bishop feels the need to act like a typical politician, but it feels fishy to me. Unacceptable is how politicians talk when they want to convey the illusion of action, the illusion that the politician matters, knows something about the issue, is concerned, and sees what needs to be done. And yet the bishop says he doesn't know what to do. So is he making himself out to be less important than a politician? I didn't think that could be done.
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Posted by: feedback -
Sep. 17, 2014 8:40 AM ET USA
"The status quo is unacceptable and we gotta do something." How about, teaching people the basics of their Catholic faith, starting with kids in Catholic schools? That would be something new.
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Posted by: filioque -
Sep. 16, 2014 7:48 PM ET USA
There probably are some improvements that could be made in the juridical process, but why isn't anyone talking about the massive 50-year failure of catechesis that has allowed Catholics to marry without understanding their Faith or what they are undertaking in the Sacrament of Matrimony? In particular, how many times do pastors ignore the fact that the couple is already cohabiting? We need to recognize the real problem in the face of the prevailing culture and start the long road back.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Sep. 16, 2014 5:11 PM ET USA
If certain "Catholics" will not abide by the Church's teachings on the sanctity of marriage, then why don't they either join another denomination, that gives them what they want on divorce and remarriage, or just attend Mass without going to Communion? They can still partake in Bible studies, fellowship, fundraisers, church socials etc. without going to Communion.
