Dominican theologian advances compromise solution for divorced/remarried Catholics
May 01, 2015
A Dominican theologian in Switzerland has proposed a new approach to pastoral care for Catholics who are divorced and remarried: a solution that would stop short of admittance to the Eucharist.
Writing in the Dominican journal Nova & Vetera, Father Thomas Michelet suggests an ordo paenitentium-- a continuing process for Catholics who cannot reconcile their lives with the fundamental moral laws set forth by the Church. Modeled on the understanding of sacramental confession in the early Church, this proposal would offer a “journey of conversion” in which the penitents would have the support of the Church.
Father Michelet’s proposal appears to be an attempt to answer the call for a new pastoral response to Catholics who are divorced and remarried, while stopping short of the suggestion—advanced by Cardinal Walter Kasper—that they should be allowed to receive Communion.
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Posted by: garedawg -
May. 05, 2015 11:27 AM ET USA
It gets tricky when they have young children to raise together, especially if one of them has divorced, supposedly remarried in a Protestant church, and then converted to Catholicism. Technically, I agree, they should not receive Communion, but separating when you have children together is a recipe for disaster.
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Posted by: geoffreysmith1 -
May. 03, 2015 7:34 AM ET USA
Sorry, FredC, there is still the problem of causing public scandal by living together. If it is known that the couple are not siblings, it will be assumed that they have a sexual relationship, such is the mindset of society these days. Only a permanent separation will suffice for them to receive Communion worthily.
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Posted by: unum -
May. 02, 2015 10:15 AM ET USA
I believe that this is what the Holy Father had in mind when he called for new ideas that showed the love of the Church for the divorced and remarried. Pope Francis never called for a change in Church teaching!
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Posted by: FredC -
May. 01, 2015 10:09 PM ET USA
They should be admitted to the Sacraments as soon as they promise to live as brother and sister (no sex) -- a state that is easier to maintain as you get older.
