Leading Polish prelate defends Church’s teaching on Communion and the remarried
October 12, 2015
Emphasizing that he was speaking not only on his own behalf, but on behalf of the entire Polish episcopate, Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan addressed the Synod of Bishops on October 10 and said that the reception of Holy Communion by persons in non-sacramental marriages is contrary to the will of Christ.
Archbishop Gadecki’s brief synod address was published in Polish and Italian on the website of the Polish Episcopal Conference.
Citing Sacred Scripture, fourth-century councils, and recent popes, Archbishop Gadecki warned that the admission of such persons to Holy Communion would undermine the Sacrament of Penance and cause “so great damage” not only to the pastoral care of the family but also to the Church’s doctrine on sanctifying grace. Such a change, he said, would be "contrary to the Tradition of the Church."
He concluded by citing Pope Francis, who said that the synod is not being convened to change Church doctrine.
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Further information:
- L’intervento durante la VI Congregazione Generale del Presidente della Conferenza Episcopale Polacca (AbpGadecki.pl)
- President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference: Intervention at the general session 6th
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